Last section of Cats Creek bund has go-ahead

The final ten metres of the Cats Creek bund in Westport will now be completed after agreement was reached with KiwiRail.

So far, more than 50 metres of the earthen stopbank have been completed with that work taking place in late 2024. However, a 10-metre gap remained between the end of the bund and KiwiRail lines and bridge.

West Coast Regional Council Chief Engineer Peter Blackwood says KiwiRail had some concerns about the impacts of the bund on the rail bridge structure, prompting further investigation on the part of the project team.

“That extra work means an agreement has now been reached with KiwiRail to allow for the final section to be constructed. This is a good resolution and we are glad we can provide peace of mind to the neighbouring properties that the work will now be finished. We had contingency plans to fill the gap in the event of a severe flood warning, but this now means we can now properly construct the flood mitigation and carry on with our many other ongoing workstreams,” says Mr Blackwood.

A contractor is due to be appointed shortly to carry out the work.
Cats Creek is a small earthen bund, which will redirect floodwaters in Cats Creek to the Abattoir Drain. The bund will assist in reducing inundation of properties downstream of Cats Creek such as Eastons Road, and Mill, Domett and Colvin streets in Westport.

The Cats Creek stopbank forms part of the Resilient Westport flood mitigation work.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:
Resilient Westport Communications team
media@resilientwestport.co.nz