Repairs to historic Petone Wharf start this month

Bruce Mackay The Post

Report from LDR by Justin Wong
Work on the closed Petone Wharf is starting this month, after the Hutt City Council signed a contract with a local company to begin $11.6 million worth of repairs.

Weakened by tidal worms, the century-old wharf has been closed since 2021 because of earthquake and storm damage.

Civil contracting company GK Shaw Limited will fix the first 290 metres of the wharf approach and damaged parts of the wharf, strengthening the piles that support it and creating seismic gaps which allow sections of the wharf to move more safely during an earthquake.

Next year, the company will repair 60m of the wharf head and demolish the remaining 50m, or nine bays, that were in “particularly poor condition”.

During the repairs, about half the wharf’s 60 car parks will be used as a construction yard and the beachfront shared path will be diverted. Pavement markings and bollards will separate people using the path from vehicles.

The contract arrived on the desk of the council’s chief executive Jo Miller in September.

The repair will be paid for out of a $20m fund for major Petone projects, including the earthquake-prone grandstand at the Petone Recreational Ground which councillors have agreed to demolish unless someone presents a credible rescue plan by December 1.

Strengthening the entire wharf was estimated to cost more than $14m, and demolishing it was expected to cost $6m. The council planned in 2024 to knock down the entire wharf but this was met with a protest and a petition signed by more than 6000 people.

A spokesperson of the group Save Petone Wharf, which has been lobbying the council to keep the wharf, said the contract signing marked a “fantastic day” for local residents.

“While there is still work ahead, today is a day to celebrate and to thank everyone who played a part in securing the future of this much-loved landmark.”

GK Shaw Limited previously repaired earthquake-damaged piles at Petone Wharf and rebuilt other wharves at Rona Bay and Seatoun.