Palmerston North residents living near the Mangaone Stream are set to benefit from improved river management assets.
Horizons Regional Council group manager catchment operations, Jon Roygard says retaining walls along a section of the stream near Tremaine Ave, currently made of stone-filled gabion baskets, are to be replaced with secant pile walls.
“The primary goal of this project is to enhance bank edge protection and retaining structures along the Mangaone Stream. This will help to create more flood resilience in the area and keep our communities safer at a time when climate change is causing stronger and more frequent flood events,” said Dr Roygard.
“This upgrade is important for improving the structural integrity and effectiveness of bank protection. Secant pile walls are a significant improvement over gabion baskets, offering enhanced stability and durability – things essential for effective long-term riverbank management.
“Importantly, the new secant pile walls will be constructed behind the current gabion baskets, ensuring continuous bank protection throughout the project. This approach minimises the risk of exposure as the gabion baskets do not need to be removed until the new wall is complete.”
Construction will commence this month and conclude around May 2025.
“The project will create some disruption in the area, with the Mangaone Stream Share Pathway to be closed between Botanical Rd and Tremaine Ave for the duration of the work to ensure public safety,” says Dr Roygard.
“We will take advantage of the pathway closure to also enhance the stopbanks along the pathway, particularly near where they adjoin Belvedere Cres.”
One lane of Seddon St near Tremaine Ave will need to be closed for the entirety of the project, so traffic will not be able to access Tremaine Ave from Seddon St.
There will also need to be a full closure of the same section of Seddon St for a period of time while machinery works on the stream bank in that area.
“We appreciate this will cause disruption for residents nearby and people who regularly travel through the area. However, the benefits of this work will create increased safety and resilience in the long term,” says Dr Roygard.
This work has been made possible thanks to funding through the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, administered by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, which Horizons secured $26.9 million from as part of Budget 2020 for climate resilience and flood protection projects in the Horizons Region.
“The Mangaone Stream work is part of a suite of projects funded by Kānoa in the region, including work in Foxton, Rangitīkei, the Lower Manawatū Scheme and other areas of Palmerston North,” says Dr Roygard.
“This suite of projects, which Horizons contributed $9m to, is not only enhancing climate resilience but also creating employment opportunities in our region, boosting our economy,” he said.
