Viewpoint – Roading upgrades continue

Kaipara District Council (KDC) is making great progress on a range of road repair projects across the district.

The Insley Street widening and strengthening project is now complete, with only minor line marking upgrades remaining. It comprises a 3-metre-wide revetment and rock armouring wall along Insley Street. This will help strengthen the road, improve pedestrian access, and protect the shoreline against future erosion. Since completion, the project has been extended to include a section of protective rock wall along Black Swamp Road, continuing the revetment to help protect the road from future erosion.

Major construction works continue at the Mangawhai Road slip repair site. Thank you to everyone for your patience as we remediate this major slip. Contractors are making good progress, and work is expected to be completed this month.

The Hakaru Bridge replacement on Kaiwaka Mangawhai Road is underway and currently in the concept design and geotechnical investigation phase. Also making progress is the Huarau Road culvert replacement.

At Huarau Road, initially, one lane of the road remained open, but ongoing ground movement has since forced a full road closure. The project comprises new 2.4m culverts and a rebuild of the road. Local contractors Huband Contractors Ltd are carrying out the work.

Downer took over KDC’s Road Maintenance Contract two years ago and has successfully managed a significant backlog of work, including responding to several extreme weather events.

Through data-driven asset management and innovative solutions, they have developed forward works programmes that maximise value from available budgets. A key focus has been shifting from a reactive approach to a proactive, preventative maintenance model, ensuring the long-term performance and resilience of the KDC roading network.

Downer team members continuously reinforce the importance of responding promptly and effectively to customer enquiries and concerns. The company also continues to exceed council’s 30 per cent target requirement to utilise local suppliers for our roading projects. Downer has also received excellent feedback from NZTA.

Downer has recently been awarded the Civil Construction NZ Award for Best Managed Asset Management Maintenance Contract in Northland for 2026 for KDC’s Road Maintenance Contract.

Mark Taylor of Downer received the Yovich Advisory Northland Leadership Award, and Ashley Feary claimed the Promains Women in Contracting Award.

Downer is a finalist in the CCNZ Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards. Category Six: Maintenance and Management of Assets: Kaipara District Council Road Maintenance Contract.

Downer remains focused on customers, making informed, data-driven decisions and strengthening collaboration with local suppliers and the KDC Roading team, to deliver high-quality work, safely and efficiently for Kaipara.