Ngā Hinonga
Our Projects
Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi is a transformational project for Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai - Lower Hutt. It includes crucial flood protection work, the Melling Transport Improvements, and Hutt City Centre urban revitalisation.
What's happening?
Closures and changes to local roads from January 2026
Queens Drive between Rutherford and High Street is now closed until approximately 2029. Block Road and Pharazyn Street north of Marsden Street and the northern section of the Riverbank car park are also now permanently closed.
Underground cable relocations
To make way for the new Melling Bridge, stop banks, and shared pathways, we've asked Wellington Electricity to relocate underground electricity cables currently within the construction zone.
SH2 Melling Transport Improvements
The new State Highway 2 Melling intersection will provide safer, more resilient and accessible transport system in Lower Hutt through a new grade-separated interchange, improved walking/cycling paths and better access to public transport.
Hutt River Trail closures
Sections of both the western and eastern sides of the river trail between Ewen and Kennedy Good bridges will be closed at times, with an alternative routes for walkers and cyclists.
River protection
We're using two methods to protect the edges of Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River from flooding.
Parliament St (north) neighbourhood greenway (Completed)
We've completed work on the neighbourhood greenway at the northern end of Parliament Street.
Demolition works for Melling Transport Improvements (Completed)
Block Road skate park, as well as buildings on High and Rutherford streets, and Queens Drive have been demolished.
New Skatepark for Avalon Park (Completed)
We've built a new, state-of-the-art skatepark at Avalon Park to replace the old one at Melling.
Mills Street stopbank
In 2024 we upgraded the existing stopbank between Melling Link Bridge and just north of Mills Street. In 2026 we are preparing the area for Stage 2 of the works. This will involve relocating high voltage power cables to create a permanent stopbank, boosting Lower Hutt’s flood resilience levels to withstand a 1-in-440 year flood.
Geotechnical Investigations (Completed)
Geotechnical Investigations prior to construction are now complete. The works include drilling and probing the ground using geotechnical drill rigs and thrust machines to explore the ground up to 35m below the surface.
Melling Station Closure
Melling Station and its park and ride facilities closed on 24 December 2025 and will remain closed for around three years. The Melling Line will remain open with Metlink rail services terminating at Western Hutt Station during construction of the Melling Transport Improvements.
Daly Street
The Daly Street area is a key site within the future plans for development. Buildings on Daly Street and at the southern end of High Street are scheduled for demolition in the first quarter of 2026.
Property Removal on Pharazyn, Marsden, Daly and Mills Streets
Removing properties will make room for the river by allowing stopbanks to be set further back from the river edge, and improve flood defences. It will also create new spaces for future development around the city centre.
Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River Gravel Extraction
During September and October 2023, gravel was extracted from Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River by Greater Wellington as part of the planned management of the riverbed.
Coordinated Programme of Activities
