Slip repair programme puts pedal to the metal
Grouping storm-related road repair projects according to their complexity has enabled a panel of construction suppliers to get the first phase of repairs underway sooner than expected. The panel, established by the council, has been assigned 12 of the most severely-impacted roads across the Far North to manage, with slip repairs started in May and continuing through July.
Rather than the usual process of roads being assessed individually, which can be a costly and slow process, forming a panel has allowed work to be allocated to a group of selected contractors. The procurement process of signing contracts and acquiring the goods and services can be lengthy, especially on complex storm-related repair projects. Grouping projects streamlined the paperwork to get the repairs across the line more quickly, saving time and money, presenting the best value solution for ratepayers.
Road repairs classified as low cost and low risk are also being included in the construction programme, with funding for the works coming from the Long Term Plan 2024-27.
The formation of the panel was outlined by Kahika Moko Tepania at the State of the Far North Address in November last year. During the address the mayor outlined how consecutive weather events from July 2022 - including Cyclone Gabrielle – had left the Far North local roading network with 175 slips to repair at an estimated cost of $41 million. At the time of the address 39 of the most complex sites were still to be repaired.
Each repair programme was assessed as high, medium or low complexity with construction companies selected for the panel then indicating the level of complexity they would undertake. The panel manager distributes projects to the companies accordingly.
Over the next three years the companies on the panel will deliver over $30M in projects for the council creating a consistent supply of work across the Far North to the contractors and resulting in a quicker and more efficient procurement process.
Year One Projects:
High complexity category:
- Wainui Road, Ahipara
- Mangamuka Road, Mangamuka
- Wainui-Matauri Bay Road, Matauri Bay
Med Complexity:
- Pawarenga Road, Broadwood
Low Complexity
- Kaitāia-Awaroa Road (two sites)
- Monument Road, Hūkerenui
- Waikare Road, Kāretu
- Honeymoon Valley Road, Kaitāia
- Duncan Road, Kaingaroa
- Paranui Road, Taipā
- Whangapē Road, Herekino
- Waterfront Road, Pukenui
These roads and other slips can be found on the Far North slip repair map.
Year One Projects are the first round of slip repairs to be assigned by the panel with Year Two and Three Projects yet to be determined.