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 2024. 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.
“[This project will boost] Opotiki’s capability as a service and processing base for aquaculture, the broader marine industry and recreational users.”
Previously, mussel boats had to unload at Whakatane and transport mussels 40 kilometres 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 harbor 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-weather 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 4,000-hectare Te Whakatohea mussel farm located 8.5 kilometre 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 high-grade 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.
© Waterford Press Ltd 2024 – Independent Print Media New Zealand
