Westport Riverbank project - Toki Poutangata Bridge.
Westport Waterfront’s Riverbank project reconnects Westport's town centre to the Buller River. The $2M project, funded from the Provincial Growth Fund and delivered by Buller District Council, (BDC) is revitalising the current industrial area between the Buller River and the town centre. It forms part of the Westport master plan and features the Toki Poutangata bridge.
Announced at the end of 2020, physical works began in May 2021 with completion in February 2022.
I was engaged by project managers CGW Consulting Engineers, to develop an engagement and communications strategy that ensured the community and stakeholders were well informed, felt involved in the project and were excited by the opportunities it will bring to the region. I then helped BDC implement the strategy through a range of community engagement, media relations and communications actions.
Community and stakeholder interest was high throughout the project, as one would expect with such a significant and highly visible piece of new infrastructure. Positive media coverage, great communications from BDC and a range of engaging videos that detailed every step of the intricate process really helped to increase engagement levels and build positive energy and momentum for the whole project.
Thanks to further funding from central government's Tourism Infrastructure Fund, the Toki Bridge will now also create a compelling link to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail, the floating basin and Kawatiri River Trails.
Toki Poutangata.
The name chosen for the bridge Toki Poutangata (or Toki for short), describes a ceremonial adze of chiefly authority, and consists of a pounamu blade lashed to an elaborately carved handle. This styling has been carried through into the truss design of the bridge structure, with its distinctive tapered shape and green colour, drawing focus to the Buller River. The concept has support from local iwi Ngāti Waewae. It represents strength, mana, bravery and triumph, all traits and characteristics synonymous with the Buller district.
Showcasing local involvement.
A key part of the Provincial Growth Fund, which provided $2m towards this project, was to help secure jobs in the local community during the Covid19 pandemic, also helping build the experience and skills of local tradespeople. Rae Engineering in Westport did the metal fabrication work on the Toki Bridge, which was captured to help tell the project’s story.
Interest in infrastructure projects is always high amongst the community so we made sure to capture the transport and placement of the bridge structure, which was one of the final key stages before the offical opening.