Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is urging the public to steer clear of an active construction zone at the Waiohiki stopbank site, due to serious safety concerns.
After 18 months of planning, construction is now underway, but an alarming number of people are entering the site without authorisation, putting themselves and work crews at serious risk.
Located along the Tūtaekurī River between Lennox Park and the Redclyffe Bridge, the site is a high-risk work area. Heavy machinery is operating close to the river, and many of these machines have limited visibility. Operators often wear hearing protection, meaning they may not see or hear someone entering unexpectedly, the Council said in a statement.
Despite signage, fencing at entry points, and additional security near the bridge in place, the Council says people are continuing to enter the site without permission.
“This is deeply concerning. It puts individuals at serious risk and disrupts essential flood protection work. After hours, the site remains dangerous, with uneven ground, heavy machinery, incomplete structures, and materials that could pose a hazard,” the Council said.
Regional Council Project Manager Mell Anderson said the Council was committed to delivering flood protection for the Waiohiki community as quickly as possible, but can only do so safely and efficiently if people stay out of the restricted area.
“Every time someone enters the site, we have to shut down operations immediately to protect both them and our crews,” said Ms Anderson.
“That triggers a full team alert and a safe escort out of the zone. These incidents cause unnecessary delays and slow down progress on critical infrastructure that’s designed to protect homes and businesses.”
Council is urging the public to respect all signage, stay out of the construction zone, and help ensure this vital work can be completed safely and without further delay.
