16 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT HEB Construction: Opotiki Harbour T T Bernadette Cooney Harbour development boost for town The $115 million redevelopment of Opotiki Harbour is nearing completion, boosting the town’s capability as a service and processing base for aquaculture, the broader marine industry and recreational users. “We’ve used three-quarters of a million cubic metres of various grade rock for building the breakwaters and the same amount of sand for closing the river.” The opening of a $115 million redevelopment of the Opotiki Harbour is set to bolster aquaculture operations in the small East Coast town by allowing mussel boats to dock and unload from August this year. This project, one of New Zealand’s largest non-roading infrastructure developments in decades, will benefit both recreational boaters and the mussel farming and processing industry. Previously, mussel boats had to unload at Whakatane and transport mussels 40 km by road to the Whakatohea Mussel factory in Opotiki. Funded by the New Zealand Infrastructure Upgrade Fund and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, the project is managed by Kanoa (MBIE’s regional economic development unit). Key stakeholders are the Opotiki District Council, and local iwi, Whakatohea. The project began in 2020 under HEB Construction’s coordination. HEB, a prominent Tier 1 infrastructure company in New Zealand, managed the design and construction over four years. David Wyeth, HEB Construction’s project manager, highlighted the project’s nearing completion and its anticipated economic benefits. He emphasised that the new harbour would enhance efficiencies for Whakatohea Mussels by providing an all-weather, navigable entrance for mussel boats. This will boost Opotiki’s role as a service and processing hub for aquaculture and the broader marine industry, “Being able to use the Opotiki Harbour will speed up efficiencies for Whakatohea Mussels by providing an all-weathers entrance that is navigable for mussel boats, boosting Opotiki’s capability as a service and processing base for aquaculture, the broader marine industry and recreational users.” The redevelopment aims to support the current 4000-hectare Te Whakatohea mussel farm located 8.5 km off the Opotiki coastline and then a further 10,000 or so hectares of farms yet to be developed. Years of research and feasibility trials, including physical and hydraulic modelling at the Water Research Laboratory in New South Wales, ensured the project’s effectiveness. These models simulated the marine conditions the walls would face. “Key features include two new 450-metre-long river training walls, the redirection of the Waiweka River between these walls, and dredging to a depth of four metres to create a navigable harbour entrance,” says David. The breakwaters are angled westward to accommodate current river morphology and minimise wave propagation down the channel. The construction required 12,000 concrete armour units, extensive core rock, and highgrade armor rock to protect the harbour from waves and erosion. “We’ve used three-quarters of a million cubic metres of various grade rock for building the breakwaters and the same amount of sand for closing the river.” The vast amount of rock required was sourced from four quarries: Rainbow Quarry Rotorua, Blue Rock and Manawahe quarries Whakatane, and Omataroa Rangataiki No 2 Trust quarry at Matahina. HEB Construction has built up a strong track record in port and marina construction projects. Their portfolio includes the No.6 multi-purpose wharf at Napier Port, six new ferry berths on Queens Wharf in Auckland, and improvements to the Quay Street and Wynyard Quarter ferry terminal which was a central feature of Auckland’s downtown infrastructure development program. 073156515 | ADMINISTRATION LHEOPOTIKI.CO.NZ LOWES HIRE & ENGINEERING LTD ARE PROUDTO BE A KEY PARTNER AND SERVICE PROVIDER TO HEB CONSTRUCTION DURING THE ŌPŌTIKI HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT!
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