Motueka projects

This project is to replace the existing eight plastic storage tanks with one new large reservoir. This upgrade will help future-proof Motueka’s water supply and improve the overall resilience of the system.

Contact: Email [email protected] for further information, reference P1144.

This project is to design and build a community pool for Motueka.

You can find more information on this project here: Motueka Pool | Shape Tasman.

Contact: Email [email protected], reference project 1530.

We’re sourcing material (soil) from Tasman View Road for the next phase of the Motueka River Stopbank Refurbishment project. At the same time, we’ll be upgrading a section of the road to improve it for future use.

Tasman View Road (Resident Access Only):

• Road closure from Harley Road beyond Totally Timber to Flaxmore Road for new road construction (30 October 2025 to 20 December 2025)
• Road closure from SH60 to Hewetson Road for new road construction (12 January 2026 to 01 May 2026) with some early clearance works in December. 

We appreciate that this closure will affect recreational users of Tasman View Road, especially for those looking to link with the Great Taste Trail cycleway during the works period.

For your own safety, please follow all signage and instructions from the project team situated at each end of the road.

We will continue to update everyone on progress in the coming weeks through our various channels, including the Council’s Antenno app. 

Contact info: Email [email protected] or see Motueka Stopbanks Phase Two (1572) for further information on the project.

March 2026 update

There’s been plenty of rain in recent weeks to test us, but progress has been banking up with stage two of the Motueka River Stopbank Refurbishment project.

Our earthworks programme for 2025/2026 has been building on last season’s improvements to the Lower Motueka River stopbank network and Peach Island.

The Lower Motueka River and Brooklyn Stream stopbanks are receiving upgrades across 6.7km, building on the 4.8km initial stage of works.

Refurbishment work will raise the crest of the stopbanks in areas where it is no longer high enough to provide protection from a 1-in-50-year flood event and provide a gravelled 4m crest width for safe access.

It will also address areas where the stopbanks might have weaknesses that could cause them to fail in a large flood event.

Following a great start to works last year with a 720m section refurbishment of the Lower Motueka stopbank, since Christmas we have managed to refurbish a further 900m.

Work around the Peach Island site is all but complete, constructing a broader culvert at the downstream end, allowing water that accumulates to drain faster after flooding.

Between now and the end of April, our staff and contractors will be busy at sites on Motueka River West Bank Road, Anderson Road and College Street.

We are grateful to Kānoa Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit for their co-funding contribution to the project that has enabled this level of refurbishment.

We look forward to the completion of stage two of the project, as well as rolling out the second tranche of co-investment funding announced for Motueka River flood protection upgrades under the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund.

December 2025 update

Stage Two of the Motueka River Stopbank Refurbishment project has begun its earthworks programme for 2025/2026, building on last season’s improvements to the Lower Motueka River stopbank network and Peach Island.

The project aims to build resilience and reduce the community’s risk of flooding from the river – the value and necessity of which was made clear after the floods of June/July 2025.

Refurbishment work will raise the crest of the stopbank in areas where it is no longer high enough to provide protection from a 1-in-50-year flood event and provide a gravelled 4m crest width for safe access. It will also address areas where the stopbank might have weaknesses that could cause it to fail in a large flood event.

This year’s activity started well with the first 720m section of the Lower Motueka stopbank nearing completion. In recent days, we also started work on the Peach Island section. 

As well as the initial brief of improving maintenance access along the banks, fencing the stopbanks, and ensuring they are appropriately constructed, we will also be constructing a broader culvert at the downstream end of Peach Island, allowing water that accumulates to drain faster after flooding.

We are co-funding this $12.5 million project with a grant of $7.5 million from Kānoa Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, as part of the Government’s Resilient Infrastructure Fund.

We’ll be carrying out work at several points along the riverbanks – River Road, College Street, Peach Island Road, Motueka West Bank Road, Blue Gum Corner, and Douglas Road. There will be moderate truck movements to and from these sites, but otherwise the public impact will be minimal.

Following a brief break for Christmas, we’ll be back into the swing of things in the New Year, continuing through to April.

October 2025 Update

As we continue to recover and repair from the winter floods, particularly in terms of building river resilience, we have recently had some valuable co-investment funding announced for Motueka River flood protection upgrades under the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund.

This is the second tranche of funding from last year’s initial allocation and joins 32 other flood resilience projects around the country which will receive funding.

Tasman’s approved allocation of government funding is $9.48m, and along with Council co-funding of $6.32m, will make for a total project value of $15.8m.

It is estimated that around $2.23 billion of capital value will be protected as a result of the funding.

The funding is intended to construct new and upgrade existing stopbanks and associated flood resilience infrastructure to increase protection to Motueka and the surrounding areas. We had been planning the level of service upgrade for tranche two before the June/July flood events, building on the refurbishment work currently being delivered along the Lower Motueka River and at Peach Island.

However, the effects of the flooding have changed the environment somewhat, as well as how we prioritise our works programme.

Recovery is still a key consideration in our river work. We are working with Kānoa to determine the best use of the tranche two funds, and until we do, we are not able to confirm the specifics of this work. We will continue to keep you updated as decisions are made.

Planned works under the tranche one funding will be taking place in the months ahead.

About the project:

We are progressing the second stage of works of the Lower Motueka River stopbank network, to build resilience and reduce the community’s risk of flooding from the river.

Following the successful completion of Stage One in 2025, funding for the Motueka Stopbanks Refurbishment Project Stage Two was approved by Kānoa Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, as part of the Government’s Resilient Infrastructure Fund.

We received a grant of $7.5 million from Kānoa, of which $6.6 million will go towards work on the Lower Motueka River stopbank refurbishment, and $900,000 going towards stopbank repairs at Peach Island. We are providing another $5 million in co-funding for a total project budget of $12.5 million.

Contact: Email [email protected] for further information, reference project 1572.

We have projects set up to look and improve these existing treatment plants to reduce impact on the environment and meet modern standards.

We are starting with Collingwood, Tākaka and Motueka and improving their Secondary Treatment Systems by investigating the work required and engaging special expertise.

We are looking at nutrient loading, decreasing solids and stormwater flows in all three plants, as well as reducing nitrogen and ammonia that is produced.

Contact: Email [email protected] for further information, reference P1450/1587.

September 2024 Update:

Stage 2 is 100% complete and the pump station is currently on hold until further developments.

November 2023 Update: 

Stage Two: New Wastewater rising main from Pah Street - Motueka Bridge

Stage 2 is over 50% complete. The priority was to complete the construction on State highway 60 before the holiday season.

The team are now working along Parker Street heading towards Atkins Street.  1700m of pipe has been laid out of the proposed 3000m and on track to the programme. 

October 2023:

This stage of the project is for the installation of a new polyethylene (PE) wastewater rising main approximately 3 kilometres long.  The pipeline alignment will follow Pah Street, Atkins Street, Parker Street, High Street and Lyndhurst Avenue (SH60).  All sections can be installed via open trenching methods, with the exception of a short section beneath the Motueka River stopbank which will require use of a trenchless installation technology. 

The pipeline will serve the growing communities in Motueka West, conveying wastewater from development there to the wastewater treatment plant.

The pipeline alignment will start at Lyndhurst Avenue SH60 at the Motueka River Bridge and continue along High Street, Parker Street, Atkins Street and Pah Street. All sections of the pipeline will be installed via open trenching.

There are eight phases for this portion of the works. Phase one – between Lyndhurst Ave SH60 to Parker Street turn-off – has now finished.

Beginning in October 2023, work will move along Parker St to the intersection at Te Maatu Drive through to Wilkie Street. From Monday 9 October, the intersection at Te Maatu Drive will be closed so access from High Street into Parker St will only be available for residents in this first section. We expect this stage to take approximately three weeks.

The overall Rising Main project is planned to be completed by May 2024.

We are mindful of the impact that wait times can have on people’s day, and we are aiming to keep these to a minimum.

We thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation during this work.

Stage One: COMPLETE

What are we doing?

To enable growth in this less flood prone and sea level rise affected area, a new pump station and rising main must be installed to deliver wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), pumping via a shared main starting at the Motueka River Bridge. 

Why are we doing it?

This project is necessary to serve and enhance any Motueka West developments and incudes the installation of wastewater rider mains along Grey Street from the Green Lane intersection North to Pah Street. The water main will follow the same alignment with an additional branch east along Whakarewa street past Motueka High School.

How will it affect me?

• There will be times when vehicle access to your property may be temporarily unavailable, but we will work with you on exact timing.
• There may be times when the traffic is down to one lane. 

Start Date: 22 August 2022

End Date:  January 2023

Contractor: CJ Industries Ltd

Site Contact: Morgan Corrie-Johnston -  021 307 145

Contact: Email [email protected] reference project 1182.

Project Cancelled

The intersection upgrade on Whakarewa Street in the form of a roundabout near Manoy Street, is to provide safe access to and from the new Whakarewa Phase 1 Housing Development by Wakatu Inc, and the low impact roundabout design needs to cater for the safe egress of cyclists and pedestrians in all four directions.

The timeline for construction will align with provision of other services once design and consenting has progressed further.

Contact: Email [email protected], reference project 1342.

COMPLETED

This project to increase Levels of Service and reduce flooding along the west side of High Street and around the Wratt Street / Woodlands Ave intersection.

Kicking off mid 2024, we have started by investigating the work, this will be developed in two more (since the Motueka West Stormwater Discharge System project) stages and be totally complete in 2027.

Wratt Street Overland flow path investigations at Woodlands Ave - Ground Penetrating Radar, potholing and coal tar sampling.

Contact:

Email [email protected] for further information, reference Project 1503.