Three thousand cubic metres of rock were used to repair flood damage on the bank of Clutha River in Albert Town, work which the Otago Regional Council (ORC) and contractors have now completed.

Heavy rain events in December 2019 and February 2020 resulted in flood damage to the bank of Clutha River just upstream of the SH6 bridge in Albert Town. 

The damage included collapse of a section of the shared use path into the river and slipping on the steep slope above this pathway. 

The ORC has undertaken works to reinstate the rock buttress and reshape and stabilise the steep slope to the upper terrace, using approximately 3,000m3 of rock.

Before and after the repair work.

The rock buttress which provides access for shared use paths managed by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has also been reinstated.

The work provided essential riverbank protection, reducing the risk to the state highway bridge and to properties on the terrace adjacent to the riverbank. It also reinstated the access track along the river edge that is used by hundreds of people on a daily basis. The access track along the river edge also links to other well used trails in the area.

The flood damage repairs started in October 2020 and were completed in early February. While the work has primarily focused on repairing flood damage and stabilising the existing steep slope, the lower access track has been widened, raised, and levelled. 

Before and after the repair work.

This access will be used for future maintenance of rock lining along the river edge, while at the same time benefiting the wider community who use that riverside access track.

ORC engineering manager Michelle Mifflin said the overall risk of future flood damage has been reduced by stabilising both the riverbank and the slope directly above it.

“We’re really pleased to see this major flood damage repair project has come to completion and commend the ORC project delivery team which included design and engineering consultants Geosolve, and the contractors Jolly Earthworks and Paul Smith Earthmoving, who successfully completed this complex engineering work. A large excavator specific to purpose was needed to undertake the difficult task of placing rock in the fast-flowing river.”

Before and after the repair work.

“We understand that the temporary closure of the area during the construction was an inconvenience to the local community. Thank you for being understanding through the course of this project,” she said.

While the major civil works have been completed, landscaping using native vegetation is still to be undertaken in conjunction with QLDC. There will also be regular ongoing monitoring of the rocked riverbank and the slope above it and regular maintenance of these assets.

PHOTOS: Supplied