The Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) Alliance has been set up to plan, organise and deliver much of the recovery and rebuild work needed on the highway and rail networks in Te Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) and Te Matau a Māui (Hawke's Bay), in conjunction with local businesses and contractors.
The TREC team is hosting community drop-in sessions from 18 March to 10 April across Hawke’s Bay, Wairoa and Tairāwhiti.
We have been gathering feedback on Eskdale and Devil’s Elbow and Mangahauini Gorge.
Over the past few years, the East Coast has experienced significant rainfall, coastal surges and strong winds, all of which puts pressure on the roading and rail networks.
Following these damaging weather events, work is needed to address both short-term recovery (to keep roads and rail open and ensure access), and mid to long term rebuild opportunities (to improve the resilience of roads and rail and rebuild smarter).
The Transport Rebuild East Coast Alliance members include Waka Kotahi, KiwiRail, Downer, Fulton Hogan and Higgins. The Alliance will work in conjunction with local businesses and contractors.
The East Coast has a strong pool of hard-working, skilled and experienced contractors, consultants and suppliers who understand both road and rail building and the East Coast whenua. TREC will complement – not replace – existing resource within the region, using an ‘East Coast first’ philosophy for physical works, with specialists from other regions brought in as required.
Ongoing recovery works, needed to restore the state highway and rail networks to a functional level will continue. This is focused on keeping networks open and includes works like: slip clearing, stabilisation and protection, river and road edge scour repairs, drainage works, road surface repairs and replacement and guardrail/barrier replacement.
Future rebuild works will be focused on improving the resilience of the state highway and rail network. We need to design and construct differently for the future, with new ways of thinking and collaboration.
The TREC Alliance will also undertake the ongoing maintenance and operations requirements of the state highway network in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay, continuing the recovery efforts that have been ongoing since February 2023.
While recovery and rebuild work is underway, Waka Kotahi will continue with safety, resilience and walking and cycling projects that were underway before Cyclone Gabrielle.
TREC is starting work to replace Hikuwai Bridges No. 1 and No. 2. We will be working at pace with the aim to open both bridges by the end of 2024.
More details on the project scope and scale will be shared as work is confirmed. The TREC Alliance is expected to be in place for several years.
