Project Start Year: 2024-2025
The requirement for a Quarry Road bridge upgrade, which crosses the Pairatahi River, became apparent during an August 2022 flood; this was a ‘pinch-point’ in the scheme. After witnessing the devastation and loss of bridges elsewhere in the country during Cyclone Gabrielle, this became a priority for the scheme upgrade. The upgrade was further supported by Northland Regional Council’s hydraulic modelling.
This project protects approximately a dozen homes immediately adjacent to the bridge. It is critical to the wider scheme conveying flood waters from Kaitaia and provides 1:100 year protection to Kaitaia township. If a stopbank breach or loss of the bridge occurred, it would also flood the Awanui township. This bridge also forms part of the route to Kaitaia’s airport, an important location for medical staff and others travelling to and from Kaitaia.
Council’s flood modelling includes allowance for climate change; approximately 20 percent more rain and a 1.4 metre sea level rise.
The bridge upgrade will add additional flood capacity, reducing the risk of overtopping or bridge washout.
Northland Regional Council (NRC) and the Far North District Council (FNDC) have worked closely to deliver this project along with the Awanui River Flood Management Working Group. Founded in 2005, this group is made up of iwi, hapu, the Department of Conservation, NRC, FNDC, landowners, and the local Chamber of Commerce. Meetings are open to the public. This mahi is supported by co-investment funding from the Kānoa's Regional Infrastructure Fund.
This work is part of a wider project to significantly increase the level of protection of Kaitaia township from a 1:30 year flood event to a 1:100 year flood event, and the surrounding rural land from a 1:10 year to a 1:20 year level of protection. During the 2021-2022 work season NRC set the stop banks back in anticipation for an additional bridge span.
