Making our city more resilient, connected and vibrant

Haere mai

Welcome to the RiverLink Community Update - a catch up on what’s being done to deliver three separate but interdependent projects that will transform Lower Hutt, your river city.

RiverLink is a partnership between Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington, and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency working collaboratively with Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira to deliver flood protection, the revitalisation of Lower Hutt’s central city, and Melling transport improvements.

Having your say on the biggest project in Lower Hutt’s history

Post lodgement

The period for putting forward a submission/consent application about RiverLink has now closed. More than 100 submissions were received. The team are now working through responding to those submitters.

What now?

RiverLink applied for a Direct Referral process to the Environment Court, which was accepted by the regulators. Direct Referral is where submissions and consent applications are referred directly to the Environment Court rather than a hearing held by relevant council. This process streamlines the decision-making for large scale, complex applications.

Following the Direct Referral process gives the RiverLink team more opportunity to address issues raised by submitters, while retaining the ability for those submitters to be heard.

You can get more information on the Direct Referral process here.

For more about the RiverLink project go to our website.

Spotted these new signs?

You may have noticed the new signs that were recently put up on either side of the river. They mark the spots where we propose building the two new RiverLink bridges – the replacement vehicle bridge and the one for pedestrians and cyclists.

Belmont – erosion protection

The erosion risk

The threat of erosion posed to riverbanks along Te Awa Kairangi Hutt River is a key flood protection issue. It’s particularly pressing just south of Kennedy Good Bridge at Belmont. If left unchecked, erosion will undermine the berm, a shared walkway, and part of State Highway 2.

Rubble and bricks from an old concrete factory were also buried in the berm, a terrace on the river’s edge over which the river can flow during high water, that was increasingly fragile.

Floodplain Management Plan and the protection works

Current work at Belmont on Te Awa Kairangi Hutt River is part of the RiverLink project and the Hutt Valley Floodplain Management Plan. It’s a 40-year blueprint to protect the most densely populated floodplain in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Widening the river channel and planting trees in the buffer zone - the strip of land right next to the flowing river – will help retain the natural meandering of the river. Further erosion has been prevented by pushing gravel into the eroded area and placing cut-down willow trees into large trenches, close to the eroded bank.

The cut-down willow trees form a bank-edge protection structure known as a woody debris groyne. This protects the eroded bank by slowing the water down and allow in the gravel to form a more stable bank-edge.

Behind the groynes, willows and native trees will be planted in alternate rows. The willows will form a protective layer while the natives establish themselves. Over time, the willow trees will be removed to allow the native plants to form the buffer. To provide further protection to the trees, debris fences made of willow poles will be constructed, and timber posts driven into the ground. Some of these willow posts will grow into trees. These fences will be tied with ropes and will collect any large logs during flooding, and slow river flows along the berms.

These erosion control works started in September 2021 and Greater Wellington aim to complete them in a couple of months. The site is a low-lying area and vulnerable to flooding, so completing this work will depend on the water levels in the river and the weather conditions.

Riverbank Market open

From 23 October the Riverbank Market will be operating from the Riverbank Carpark between 6am and 2pm, every Saturday.

Due to Level 2 (COVID restrictions) there’ll be changes to the layout of the market, as well as the number of stalls, and where to park.

While many of your favourite stalls will be there, some may not. Under Level 2 restrictions the market needs to space stalls two metres apart to help maintain the required physical distancing. There’ll be a small number of food trucks for takeaways only, but no seating or tables will be available at this alert level. The market will focus on fresh fruit, veggies, and other food items. Non-food items, such as arts and crafts, buskers, and seating will return once the Wellington region returns to Level 1.

There’ll be a change to the layout of the market. It’ll be spread out so there’s plenty of room for market goers to shop and social distance. This change means parking will not be as close as it would be in a normal market. Parking can be found in the southern part of the Riverbank Carpark, from the Daly Street entrance. Pedestrian and cycle access has not changed.

All market stalls will provide QR codes for scanning – they’ll also be at the entrance to the market. To keep everyone safe all market stall holders and their staff will be wearing masks. We encourage people planning to attend to come prepared, wear a mask, maintain physical distance from other market goers, scan in, be patient and kind, and enjoy the market returning to Lower Hutt.

Riverlink.co.nz – what’s new?

We invited local business owners, operators, and staff in Lower Hutt’s central city to come along and discuss the RiverLink project (an opportunity to talk and raise any concerns about disruption to business, or the CBD). If you missed it there’s another session in November - check the RiverLink website for details.

More information

For more information on the RiverLink project visit our website www.riverlink.co.nz or send our team an email at riverlink@gw.govt.nz