Temporary rockline gives support to vital infrastructure

Work is underway near Marsden Street on a temporary rockline that will help support flood resilience works along Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River while protecting nearby assets as the project progresses.

The rockline will help protect critical infrastructure, including the western hills sewer main, which carries most of Upper Hutt's wastewater and is currently being refurbished and relocated.

While the upgrade is strengthening the pipe, it still relies on stable surrounding ground. As the riverbank is reshaped, erosion could expose or undermine it. The temporary rockline reduces this risk by armouring the river's edge and protecting the ground above the pipeline.

Using temporary rocklines is standard practice on large river projects like this. Because work happens in stages, parts of the river edge can be more exposed than usual.

At Marsden Street, the temporary rockline will be incorporated into the final river-edge design as the project progresses.

The rockline is one example of the range of tools being used to strengthen flood resilience along Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River.

Managing flood risk is about understanding how the river naturally moves and working with those processes to protect people, infrastructure and the environment. It's how we're helping reinvigorate the mauri (life force) of Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River while strengthening flood resilience and giving the river more room to move.