12 | Far North Holdings: United Civil Construction Mangōnui waterfront transformed Karen Phelps The Mangōnui Wharf extension work involves installing piles at the water’s edge, attaching joists to the piles, then a layer of wooden decking on top of the joists to create the boardwalk. “Mangōnui is a small township yet it has some big events such as a waterfront festival, which attracts around 5000 people. This is just one stage of the waterfront development with more project coming in future years.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Mangōnui’s waterfront has been transformed by a project that has had strong community involvement to deliver a result with locals at the forefront, says Far North Holdings general manager Chris Galbraith. The recently completed Far North District Council project, which was managed by Far North Holdings, was initiated to enable safer and better pedestrian movement around the township and to improve local engagement with the coastal marine area. It will also establish an enhanced commercial presence for the township, resulting in considerable economic benefit, says Chris. The project involves an extension of the existing wooden boardwalk, by approximately 350 metres from the War Memorial on Waterfront Road to Tasman Street, which then links to a 550-metre gravel path ending at Māori Point. The design also includes dual walking and cycling boardwalks to connect the village with the harbour and a new jetty and pontoon to provide access to the water for recreational activities, including boating, fishing and swimming. The project will also boost parking by up to 40 spaces, improve street and boardwalk lighting, extend footpaths, and add concrete steps for swimmers at the jetty, gangway and pontoon. United Civil Construction is the lead contractor on the project. The company has previously worked on other Far North Holdings projects including the Paihia Wharf rebuild. The Mangōnui Wharf extension work involves installing piles at the water’s edge, attaching joists to the piles, then a layer of wooden decking on top of the joists to create the boardwalk. Chris says that even despite issues thrown at the project by Covid-19 lockdowns the project team managed to keep the work largely on track. The project is the culmination of five years of work by the Mangōnui Waterfront Development Working Group that included valued input and support from local hapu. A community survey in 2019 found strong support for plans to extend the boardwalk, increase parking and install a gangway and pontoon at the circular wharf. Chris says from the outset the aim was to deliver a project that captured what the community wanted. “Mangōnui is a small township yet it has some big events such as a waterfront festival, which attracts around 5000 people. This is just one stage of the waterfront development with more project coming in future years.” Chris says by increasing Mangōnui’s waterfront recreation area, the project will result in considerable economic benefit drawing more people – both local and from further afield – to the area. “The community is very excited about the project and now have a much greater connectivity with the township and coastal area. Everyone will enjoy the economic benefits,” says Chris. This first stage of the overall project is being funded by $1.4m million from the Council’s Long Term Plan and a $1.75 million contribution from the Government’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund. It is just one of a number of marine projects, which have also been assisted by government funding, that Far North Holdings is undertaking in the region. Other projects include Rangitane Maritime facilities development, Pukenui Wharf and Unahi Wharf redevelopments, Te Karaka Wharf upgrade, Motuti boardwalk pontoon, Rangi Point development and Mangungu Wharf upgrade. “These projects will result in lower maintenance and much safer structures that will have long-term cost saving benefits,’ says Chris. “By really advancing the quality of maritime infrastructure it will improve community access and drive economic activity.”
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