The previous bridge infrastructure acted like a dam in a flood, diverting flood waters towards Otiria and Moerewa and worsening flooding problems in the area. While floods will still occur, parts of the area previously subjected to potentially damaging and life-threatening half-metre deep floodwaters should see that reduced to just ankle height.
The new structure and an associated spillway due to be completed before Christmas 2023 are designed to allow three times more floodwaters to pass underneath, enabling it to cope with a once in a century flood event. Beams from the old bridge have found a new home at Whangārei’s Quarry Gardens.
Stage I of the Northland project – construction of the downstream section of new $1.4 million 80-metre-long spillway at Otiria – was completed last year. Stage II is the now-completed bridge, and Stage III which was 80 per cent completed at the time of the bridge opening – involves excavation of the remaining 800-metres of spillway, removal of the existing Pokapu Rd road bridge and earthworks to tie the new bridge into the wider scheme.
The works cumulatively mean that in a flood, most water will be sent down the new spillway and into the Waiharakeke River, where the river is considerably wider and deeper, and where the river flowed for centuries, restoring some of the River’s Mana and delivering on Te mana o te Wai.
A large number of people and organisations played a role in the work including the local community, the whānau shareholders of the Māori-owned block where the new bridge is built, and local kaitiaki who had worked closely with the construction crew. Local marae and hapū Ngati Kopaki and Ngati Te Ara kaumatua, kuia and kaitiaki, the Far North District Council and Kānoa - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit were also acknowledged for their contributions as part of the opening of the bridge, as was the many years’ of work of the Taumarere Flood Management Working Group who were credited for their role in bringing the project to a reality.
