Hokitika Floodwall Stage 1A

Stage 1 of the flood protection works to stabilise the Hokitika River bank at the Westland Milk Products factory was successfully completed in mid-August 2023. The project involved raising the existing stop bank by 1.2 metres over approximately 700 metres of the northern Hokitika Riverbank, extending from the corner of Gibson Quay/Livingstone Street upstream past McMullan ITM. This improvement provides crucial protection to Westland Milk Products and surrounding properties against the threat of flooding.

Work on Stage 1 of the flood protection rock wall began on May 5, 2023. The planning for this vital project, driven by concerns from Westland Milk Products and local milk suppliers about potential flooding, started in November 2021.

The rock wall design was developed by Davis Ogilvie and Partners Ltd in collaboration with Regional Council engineers. Local quarries provided rock, with daily deliveries of between 500-700 tonnes, equating to 30 truckloads of limestone each day.

By mid-July 2023, 305 metres of the rock wall had been completed, with the final 135 metres finished by mid-August, ensuring enhanced flood protection for the site and its surrounding area.