Project site meeting continues with social distancing.

Awakino Tunnel Bypass work underway post lockdown

Like many industries, life on the Awakino Tunnel Bypass project post COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown is now very different.

While the country has moved in Alert Level 2, a range of measures adhering to Alert Level 3 guidelines have been put in place to keep staff, the community and road workers safe. This includes restricting who can access the site.

Work crews have formed small working ‘bubbles’ who stick together throughout the day while maintaining safe social distance. Those working away from home also share accommodation and travel bubbles.

“We are committed to getting our roading projects up and running again, but we will not compromise on the safety of road workers or road users,” says Acting Waikato Portfolio Delivery Manager Jo Wilton.

With winter approaching the project’s focus has moved from the earthworks programme, which is largely complete, to building structures across the site.

There are approximately 600 metres of retaining walls involved in the project and the aim is to have these finished by summer so that construction work can begin on the road itself.

Work is also continuing on the two bridges across the Awakino River that provide the bypass for the historic Awakino Tunnel.

Over the summer the first bridge’s abutment walls, which support each end of the bridge, have been largely finished, as have the piles, which means attention can turn to building the bridge itself.

Next month you will see the work start on building a temporary staging bridge, at the site of the second and final bridge needed to bypass the Awakino Tunnel.

Ngāti Tama Biosecurity Manager Conrad O’Carroll prepares to attach a transmitter to a kiwi (left) and ecologist Andree Hickey-Elliott checks to see the transmitter bracelet is fastened (right).

Covid-19 interrupts kiwi tracking

More fieldwork with kiwi got underway this month as part of the Mt Messenger Bypass project’s ecology programme, allowing transmitters on some birds to be changed after becoming overdue for replacement during the Covid-19 lockdown.

North Island brown kiwi, at risk of extinction, live in forest within the project area. They along with other local kiwi populations are expected to benefit from the proposed pest control over 3,650 ha – a key aspect of the project’s ecology programme. There are currently low survival rates for juvenile kiwi as they are preyed on by pest animals.

Kiwi expert John McClennan has been overseeing and advising the project on its kiwi work. The small transmitters allow us to work out their habitat range and ensure we can reduce potential effects of the project on them during construction. They are attached as a ‘bracelet’ on the leg, using materials that will stay comfortable and safe for the kiwi.

John is training ecologist Andree Hickey-Elliott and Ngāti Tama Biosecurity Manager Conrad O’Carroll to track, capture, handle and radio-tag kiwi. Andree says it is important to change over the transmitters once field work was permitted again.

“These kiwi are mature and older individuals, with no young to maintain the next generation. We will monitor them through the project,” she says.

Lead Ecologist Roger MacGibbon

Video shines light on the project’s environmental restoration

Check out our latest video Restoring natural diversity – an enduring legacy for Mt Messenger, which tells the story of the Mt Messenger Bypass project’s substantial ecology programme, destined to be one of the largest intensive habitat restoration projects for roading in New Zealand. The intended 3,650 hectare pest management area within Ngāti Tama’s rohe, includes extensive planting of native species and wildlife protection, which are key aspects of the programme.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Manager Magila Annandale says that many are oblivious to the declining state of the forest in the area.

“We’re aware that some people don’t know that parts of the native forest in the project area aren’t in great shape and believe all the forest and waterways to be in pristine condition. In some areas, over decades, there’s been a lot of damage from goats, deer, pigs and possums to vegetation and wildlife habitats. Birds and other native animals have been preyed on by the likes of stoats, weasels and rats,” she says.

The video features the project’s Lead Ecologist Roger MacGibbon, Ngāti Tama Biosecurity Manager Conrad O’Carroll, and Waka Kotahi Owner Interface Manager Chris Nally. They give their perspectives on the need for this restoration work and why it will leave the local natural environment much healthier for future generations.

Tiaki Te Mauri O Parininihi Trust’s pest management work at the nearby Parininihi Block has strongly brought back vegetation and increased birdlife. The Trust was able to return kokako to the area several years ago.

The bypass project’s restoration planting of more than 120,000 plants includes substantial areas of kahikatea swamp forest, dryland bush and planting along stream margins. An additional 100,000 native plants will be used on the roadsides and fill slopes.

You can find information sheets and other material about the project’s ecological restoration programme on the project’s webpage.

Posts for roadside safety barriers are installed on Ladies Mile.

Safety and resilience works accelerate after lockdown

Construction of two retaining walls in the Awakino Gorge and the Ladies Mile passing lane is back on track following the COVID -19 lockdown.

Project Manager Hannah Woods says while the lockdown caused some delays, the safety and resilience projects are progressing well overall.

“Work to build the Ladies Mile passing lane was well underway before lock down and roadside barriers have now been installed to help prevent run-off-road crashes.

“The remaining pavement and sealing works will be deferred until spring when it’s warmer and drier,” says Hannah.

Consents and land negotiations for the Tongaporutu intersection improvements and second passing lane at Rapanui are nearing completion, with works set to start at these two sites later this year.

Update on Mt Messenger Bypass

Detailed design work for the new Mt Messenger route is progressing, while the project continues through a consenting process.

Appeals were made to the High Court on an Environment Court interim decision announced in December 2019 about the project’s consents and Notice of Requirement (NOR).

The interim decision was favourable to the project going ahead. However the Environment Court will not make a final decision until it is known whether Ngāti Tama, who own land needed for the project, will endorse agreements with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

Ngāti Tama’s runanga support the cultural mitigation and compensation agreements. It is considered a major transaction and is being put to iwi to vote on with 75 percent support needed to get it over the line. Voting has been delayed due to Covid-19 and matters heard by the Māori Land Court. Voting starts next week with a result expected in July.

The High Court hearing on appeals against the Environment Court interim decision is expected to be held in late August.

More information

For more information on the Awakino Gorge to Mt Messenger Programme, contact us at SH3@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/a2mm