Contract awarded for $13.5m stage of Whanganui port revitalisation

Jul 29, 2023

A long-standing civil engineering company has won a $13.5 million contract to begin the first stage of work on the Whanganui port.

Te Pūwaha is a $50m community-led initiative that will see the port revitalised and provide the city with enhanced flood protection and a purpose-built marine precinct.

The project is a collaboration between Whanganui District Council, Whanganui iwi and hapū and other groups, and is the first of its kind involving the river as it own entity Te Awa Tupua​.

This week it was announced Concrete Structures had won a tender for the first part of the project.

Whanganui Port Limited Partnership chair Mark Petersen said the work was part of a “high-profile” project with challenging construction elements.

They were impressed with Concrete Structures’ initiative and its willingness to follow the guidelines of Tupua te Kawa, the innate Te Awa Tupua.

Te Pūwaha project chairperson, Kahureremoa Aki, said the procurement process had been a collaborative one.

“Project partners, as led by Te Mata Pūau, have worked tirelessly to ensure the awa is front of mind in order to achieve this major milestone, one which will bring a huge sense of pride to our community.”

Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe said securing the contractor was a milestone and he was pleased to reach it.

”It’s going to be exciting to see phase one construction get under way.

“The port revitalisation will benefit Whanganui, stimulating economic development and creating work for our community in the marine, engineering and coastal freight sector into the future.”

The work for stage one included demolition and grounds works, as well as construction of a specialist water treatment plant and concrete structures capable of carrying a mobile boat hoist with capacity of over 550 tonnes.

Funding for the project is provided by various sources, with the Government, through the Provincial Growth Fund, providing $26.75m of the more than $50m budget.

• Whanganui District Council – upgrading wharves 2 and 3, developing marine infrastructure, providing a hardstand and runway suitable for a 300-tonne vessel hoist and dredging to assist the local boat building and marine industries.

• Horizons Regional Council – strengthening and repairing the North and South Moles, reinstating the Tanae Groyne and upgrading erosion control structures along the south spit.

• Q-West boat builders – establishing a purpose-built facility and 300-tonne vessel hoist for new builds, repairs, and maintenance services.

• Port Employment Precinct Whanganui - providing specialist training, retraining and upskilling for port activities and users.