infonews.co.nz
INDEX
MARINE

Oamaru Harbour – Breakwater Maintenance

Friday 13 May 2011, 8:44AM

By Waitaki District Council

328 views

OAMARU

The main breakwater defining the eastern side of Oamaru Harbour is in need of maintenance to prevent deterioration in several areas that, if left unchecked, will result in a breach of the breakwater. The Oamaru breakwater is an old style mass concrete block breakwater, a type unique in New Zealand. The wave forces on this type of breakwater are particularly high as the waves impact directly on the vertical seaward face. The maintenance work will place 700 tonnes of rock on the seaward side of the breakwater and dissipate the wave energy so the waves break on the sloping rock armour. The 10 tonne rocks will be placed and interlocked to ensure they withstand the wave action.

Rooney’s Earthmoving has commenced this maintenance work. The work is part of the ongoing maintenance and repair of the breakwater which has been repaired a number of times in its 130 year past. Repairs in the past have often been in response to major breaches in the breakwater. Council would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused during this maintenance work.