Franz Josef (Waiho River Stopbank Protection) – Phase 1

Contract Duration:

June 2023 – December 2024

Contract Description:

This contract involved upgrading 2.26 kilometres of the northern stopbank, including constructing a new, 900-metre section along the Waiho River’s true right bank. These works involved raising the existing stopbank height by approximately two metres and constructing a completely new stopbank, built five metres above the existing riverbed, providing robust protection against a 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood event.

Contract Achievements:

Delivering this project required meticulous planning, innovative methods, and precision in challenging conditions. The team sourced and placed 208,000 cubic metres of gravel from the riverbed, while drilling, blasting, and processing 104,000 tonnes of high-quality granite rock at MBD’s Whataroa Quarry. Rock sizes varied from 1.5 to 6 tonnes, with 50% of the rock weighing between 4.5 and 6 tonnes, and some rock measuring up to three metres across. Transporting and placing this rock involved 4,367 coordinated truck and trailer movements between MBD’s Whataroa Quarry and the site in Franz Josef, a distance of 30km, ensuring a consistent supply without disrupting the busy tourist traffic.

We utilized our 3D GPS technology in the excavator to guarantee that both the excavation and material placement were executed precisely according to the design specifications. This technology provided real-time, accurate data on the excavator’s position and movement, enabling us to strictly adhere to the planned dimensions and depths. By integrating this technology, we ensured that the excavations are completed with optimal accuracy and efficiency, and that the material placement met the exact requirements of the project design.