Rock supply tenderer for North Mole appointed

At last week’s council meeting, Horizons Regional Council approved Mills-Albert Limited as the successful tenderer for rock supply of Whanganui’s North Mole upgrade, as part of Te Pūwaha – the Port Revitalisation Project.

The upgrade and repairs to both the North and South Moles is led by Horizons as a project partner in Te Pūwaha. The work is essential to enable an operational port, as the moles define the river mouth and ensure a navigable depth is maintained for vessels, while also protecting port infrastructure from flooding.

Mills-Albert will be the primary contractor, delivering in collaboration with sub-contractors Byford’s, Loaders and Rivercity Tree Services.

Horizons project engineer Dougal Ross is pleased to have found a company that is proactive and professional.

“We have full confidence in Mills-Albert to complete the delivery to high standards,” he says.

“The rock to be supplied is Andesite and will be coming from two quarry sources – one inland of Opunake, and the other north of Raetihi.”

“Andesite is a volcanic rock with significant density and rock quality characteristics such as absorption, soundness, abrasion and weathering.”

Other considerations for the rock source were price, social procurement outcomes, project management ability, the company’s track record and resources, along with how they would uphold Tupua Te Kawa.

Mills-Albert is developing a relationship with local iwi and hapū based at both sources of rock.

“The relationship with iwi and hapū is absolutely vital as it ensures alignment with the values of Te Awa Tupua.”
It is expected that rock delivery will commence in October of this year, in accordance with the appropriate COVID alert levels at the time, with the placement of rock on the North Mole to start in early December. A tender for rock placement will be released in October with the resource consent for the North Mole upgrade expected to be granted by the end of September.

In the meantime, public are welcome to keep up to date on Te Pūwaha news by visiting www.whanganui.govt.nz/port. There they will find background information on the wider project, along with the proposed concept plans for the North Mole and adjacent coastal reserve.