- Completed designs for Bundle 10
- Completed tender evaluation and negotiations for Bundles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 9
- Awarded contract for Bundle 3
- Planning of construction activities in Bundles 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, & 9
- Commenced construction on the Karamea Bluff Highway (Bundle 3 & 11).
- Commenced construction at Burkes Creek ford (Bundle 12).
Roadmap to recovery for Buller’s roads
Kia ora koutou - welcome to the project page about the reinstatement of the roads in the Buller District that were damaged in the July 2021 and February 2022 weather events.
Project background
In December 2022 Council received $13.2M funding approval from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for the reinstatement of the roads in the Buller District that were damaged by the two significant rain events. An initial $1.5M of this funding was received after the February event to carry out emergency repairs.
These two storm events where significant, in total approximately 150 damaged sites have been recorded through Buller’s local road network. Of these, 68 damaged sites involved minor clearance of debris and trees which were addressed immediately.
The remaining sites required much more comprehensive repairs, ranging from minor road repair and reconstructions through to more significant stabilisation and remedial work. These sites have been grouped into 12 Bundles. These Bundles considered the location of the damaged sites and scope of work required in order to maximise efficiency.
It is expected that the majority of the site works will be undertaken between July 2023 and March 2024 with some rock protection and road repairs continuing through to mid-2024 on the Karamea / Bluff Highway.
Getting on the road
The funding support from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency enabled Council to put a team together and create a plan to best restore our local road network.
WestReef Services Limited were assigned most of the initial emergency repairs. This allowed them to fix these quickly under the existing maintenance contract with Council. All these repairs have now been completed except Glasseye Creek bridge and Westbank Road. Rosco Contractors Ltd were allocated and subsequently completed two sites due to the specialised rock placement required.
A robust procurement process, in accordance with government rules, is to be undertaken to select the successful contractor for the remaining works, whilst ensuring that these works are delivered safely and in accordance with the proposed design solutions and budget.
Council has established a supply panel, of appropriate and pre-qualified contractors who can tender for these remaining works. This panel is made up of local and South Island based contractors. This streamlines the tendering process and will speed up the delivery of the repair work.
A number of the repair solutions require engineering designs, which have been allocated, and most already completed, by external consultants.
It is going to be a significant work programme. Contractors will endeavour to keep the roads open as far as practicable while undertaking repairs to minimise the impact on road users. Some sites are quite sizable and will require substantial traffic management, including temporary road closures.
Work on the Karamea Highway is covered within Bundles 3, 4, 8, 10 & 11. Some works are expected to start early August. More detailed timelines are currently finalised with the contractors.
What is happening in September?
- Issue tender documentation to contractors to price Bundles 8 & 10.
- Award contracts for Bundles 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 9
- Continue planning of construction activities in Bundles 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, & 9
- Commence construction on Denniston Road (Bundle 6)
- Commence construction at Christmas Creek (Bundle 12).
- Continue construction activities on the Karamea Highway (Bundle 3 & 11)
- Complete construction activities at Burkes Creek ford (Bundle 12)
What has happened?
Follow the progress of the recovery work month by month and see how we keep on track.
- Completed designs for Bundle 8.
- Issued tender documentation to contractors to price for Bundle 7.
- Continued tender evaluation and negotiations for Bundles 2, 3, 5, 6 and 9.
- Completed evaluation and recommendation for Bundle 4.
- Awarded Contract for Bundle 12 to Liddell Contracting.
- Planning of construction activities in Bundles 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11 and 12.
- Issued tender documentation to contractors to price for Bundles 2, 6 and 9.
- Commenced tender evaluation and negotiations for Bundles 2, 3, 4, 5 and 12.
- Commenced stakeholder engagement for all Bundles.
- Awarded contract for Bundle 11 to GSI.
- Planning of construction activities for remaining sites in Bundle 1.
- Designs completed for Bundles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 12.
- Tender documentation issued to Contractors to price for Bundles 4, 5 and 12.
- Tender negotiation and value engineering for Bundle 11.
What does each bundle contain?
13 sites in the Inangahua, Reefton and Springs Junction areas, requiring a variety of minor works to bridges, roading, shoulders and removal of slip material.
7 sites in Lyell, Reefton & Springs Junction areas. Works include roading and culvert repairs, and minor rock replacement adjacent to bridge abutments. Programme of works will be agreed with the contractor
8 sites on the Karamea / Bluff Highway. Works comprise mainly of machine works (clearing of vegetation, slip material and overhangs, drainage repairs, fill and repair road shoulders and layby).
5 sites on the Karamea / Bluff Highway. 1 site requiring a designed retaining wall, 4 sites requiring machine works and rock placement for scour protection, 2 sites requiring minor machine works. Programme of works will be agreed with the successful contractor.
9 sites located in the Karamea Basin and Little Wanganui. Works consist of clearing slip debris, placing rock buttressing to support road shoulders, replacing lost river erosion rock and minor retaining walls. Works expected to commence early August.
7 sites on the Denniston Road. 5 sites requiring retaining walls and 2 requiring removal of uphill slip material. Programme of works will be agreed with the successful contractor.
8 sites on local road networks within the Seddonville and Granity areas. Scope consists of road, shoulder, culvert and drainage repairs with 3 sites requiring rock scour protection to be constructed. Programme of works will be agreed with the successful contractor.
4 sites on the Karamea / Bluff highway requiring engineered / designed retaining walls. Programme of works will be agreed with the successful contractor.
1 site at Darkies Tce requiring sites requiring rebuild / repair of 60m road and shoulder and 6 sites in the region requiring a variety of minor works. Programme of works will be agreed with the contractor.
8 sites on the Karamea / Bluff highway. 4 sites requiring engineered / designed retaining walls and 4 sites requiring culvert repairs / rock placement.
1 underslip site on the Karamea / Bluff Highway requiring a culvert replacement and construction of a retaining wall. Works expected to commence mid-August.
Bridge / ford repairs at Burkes Creek and Christmas Creek.Works expected to commence mid-August – sequence to be confirmed.
Media Releases
Read previous media releases covering the progress of the many projects that we are carrying out through the district.
- 2 December 2022 - Council receives $13.2M funding approval from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for reinstatement of Buller flood damaged local roads
- 13 September 2023 - Karamea Highway closed next week due to road stabilisation works
- 28 September 2023 - Karamea Highway closed overnight next week due to culvert replacement works
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For any queries regarding this project, please send an email to info@bdc.govt.nz.
