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Crucial central Lower Hutt flood protection works to start soon

Thursday 26 May 2011, 8:57AM

By Greater Wellington Regional Council

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LOWER HUTT

Residents and businesses in central Lower Hutt are a step closer to receiving crucial protection from a damaging flood as work begins on the Boulcott/Hutt stopbank next month.

A major milestone was reached yesterday with Regional Councillors signing off on the land access agreement between Greater Wellington and the Boulcott Farm Heritage Golf club. With the agreement now signed, Greater Wellington will let the construction contract to Goodman Contractors Ltd this week.

The $11.4 million stopbank project closes the gap in the Hutt River flood defences between Hathaway Avenue and Fairway Drive. Most of the stopbank is located on the land owned by the golf club. The golf club has agreed to provide access from Harcourt Werry Drive to construct the stopbank – Stellin, Kingston and Allen Streets will not be used.

“This is great news,” said Councillor Peter Glensor, Chairman of Greater Wellington’s Economic Wellbeing Committee. “The new stopbank will provide a significantly higher level of flood protection for both Hutt residents and the city centre”.

“We think the final agreement achieves a satisfactory outcome for both the golf club and adjoining residents who had been worried about construction access to the northern end of the site,” said Councillor Glensor.

Residents and businesses in the area will be sent a newsletter outlining the programme of works, which are due to start with the Connolly Street realignment and construction of the southern section of the stopbank. Work will begin in June 2011 and the project is scheduled to be completed in September 2014.

Those interested can visit www.gw.govt.nz/boulcott-hutt-project for more information about the project.