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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.

Client Feedback

"MBD Contracting were engaged to construct an upgrade of the Waiho/Waiau Flood Protection Scheme at Franz Josef Glacier. The network of stopbanks is critical to the ongoing viability of the Franz Josef community including tourism businesses, farms, and critical infrastructure such as the heliport, school, wastewater treatment plant and State Highway 6. MBD Contracting fulfilled their role in the project team admirably, working collaboratively with the client, project managers, designers and contract manager to deliver a contract in a timely fashion, under pressure from repeated weather/flood events and a high level of scrutiny from multiple stakeholders all while achieving the quality standards required for this complex, high risk set of flood hazard defenses. "

  -   Capital Programme Manager - West Coast Regional Council

"The project was complex and delivered in a dynamic and evolving environment. MBD Contracting demonstrated professionalism, capacity to deliver a large volume of work, adaptability and a strong quality focus throughout the project. Their innovative and collaborative approach, along with effective communication and teamwork, were key to the project’s success. We directly observed MBD’s commitment to excellence, their proactive problem solving and their ability to deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure."

  -   Engineer's Representative - WSP