April 2022

Stage 2 of the Seaview Energy Resilience Project picks up pace in April with the beginning of piling works off Point Howard.

From the first week of April through to June, our contractors, Brian Perry Civil (BPC), will be installing a series of piles to support a temporary wharf and staging platform. The wharf/platform will be used for the Seaview Wharf upgrade project over the next 2-3 years.

The site has been established with fencing and signage allowing authorised personnel only to enter. This is for everyone’s safety, and we thank the public for their cooperation. 

BPC has positioned a crawler crane and barge to carry out the piling work. The piling will create some sound.  A noise management plan in place, and monitoring will be conducted to ensure the operation is compliant with Resource Management Act requirements and Council consents.

This includes specially designed ‘bubble curtain’ technology to dampen underwater sound to protect marine mammals. Community volunteers have also been trained to help monitor marine mammals during piling work.

The work will generally be carried out between 7am and 6pm weekdays. However, work is consented for weekends if required.  

With the Kororā Little Blue Penguin breeding season finished, netting has been installed along the shoreline adjacent to the worksite to protect the birds by preventing them nesting in that area. With the guidance of the Department of Conservation, alterative nesting sites are being established. 

This latest phase of the project was launched with a blessing ceremony on 28 March. Kaumatua Kura Moeahu of Taranaki Whanui led the blessing attended by representatives from a range of organisations including CentrePort, Brian Perry Civil, Z Energy, and local residents’ associations and environmental groups.  This was also a chance to thank those involved in getting the project to this stage.

The blessing included karakia to safeguard the people involved in the work as well as the natural environment.

An image of the temporary wharf and staging platform that will be constructed. Sea piling works will commence April through to June.

Netting to protect the Kororā Little Blue Penguins. This prevents the penguins from nesting too close to the site. DOC has helped establish alternative nesting sites.

Two of the DOC dogs who helped with finding penguins to relocate them to alternative nesting sites.