By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting
Emergency dredging begins this week at Whanganui Port basin after a one-off consent variation was granted to stop silt from choking off the $87 million Te Pūwaha revitalisation project.
Horizons Regional Council signed off the urgent works under strict conditions. Without dredging, the basin would be unusable within weeks, threatening marine businesses, jobs and the future of Whanganui’s biggest infrastructure project in half a century.
“This is a one-off, given the unprecedented pressure facing the project,” Te Pūwaha project director Hayden Turoa said.
“Our shared focus is on protecting Te Awa Tupua while finding a practical solution that supports both the river and our community.”
Turoa said getting the work consented had required a number of approvals.
“We have had to work extensively with the Department of Conservation and our regional council’s regulatory team.
“The variation ensures that this activity occurs in a small area, and was granted on the basis that no dredged materials are placed into the river. Strict controls are in place to ensure any sediment that is stirred up is contained and managed appropriately.”
The controls were being put in place to protect atutahi (whitebait) and the awa.
The consent bans dumping dredged material in the river. Silt curtains must contain all suspended sediment.
Hapū oversight
Hapū representatives will have real-time oversight, with full authority to halt work if consent conditions are breached. Independent monitoring will track impacts before, during and after dredging.
Initial work will be carried out by a long-reach excavator. Later this month, the Mahikuri, a 25-metre barge dredge, will take over. It replaces the smaller dredge that failed during last month’s aborted attempt.
Port board chair Mark Petersen said the Mahikuri was twice the size of the previous bucket and excavator dredge and the operators have proven experience working in similar conditions to the Whanganui River.
“This work is essential to maintain the Port’s operations and ensure local businesses can continue to thrive,” Petersen said.
He said hapū oversight gave confidence the work would be done responsibly and with integrity.
First project of its kind
The operation is a milestone for Te Pūwaha, the first major infrastructure project to recognise Te Awa Tupua, the legal personhood of the Whanganui River.
The iwi-led partnership brings together Whanganui District Council, Whanganui Port, Horizons Regional Council, Q-West Boat Builders, hapū group Te Mata Pūau and the Whanganui District Employment Training Trust.
The goal is threefold: Mauri Awa (abundance for the river), Mauri Ora (abundance for the wider ecosystem) and Mauri Tangata (abundance for whānau, hapū, iwi and the wider community).
The $87.35 million redevelopment includes $31.8m from the Government’s Kānoa regional investment fund. Plans promise to:Build and maintain world-class vessels locally.Secure and grow high-value jobs in marine, engineering and coastal freight.Unlock new investment in the port and Whanganui.Deliver a modern marine precinct for the next 50 years.Provide specialist training through the Port Employment Precinct.
Fishing groups and marine users welcomed the dredging green light.
“We know dredging has been an ongoing issue for the port and the community, and it’s not without its challenges,” said Wanganui-Manawatū Fishing Club commodore Jamie Newell.
“A clear and safe basin benefits not just local businesses but also our wider community, and we appreciate the efforts being made to get it right while looking after the river.”
The dredging is expected to be completed by late October. All material will be trucked to contained, approved land sites, with an interim holding area on Wharf 2. The Wharf Street boat ramp will remain open, though short closures are likely.
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