Hawke’s Bay communities encouraged to have say in future of state highway roading network

Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) is inviting locals throughout parts of Hawke’s Bay and in Wairoa to learn more about the post Cyclone Gabrielle recovery and rebuild.

TREC is an alliance set up to plan, design and manage the delivery of much of the recovery and rebuild work needed on the state highway and rail networks along the East Coast in partnership with local contractors and suppliers.

Since July when TREC was created, the focus has been on recovery work to restore access to parts of the State Highway network, such as the current work to build a retaining wall at Devil’s Elbow on State Highway 2. This recovery work has been progressing well resulting in fast action for communities.

Across Hawke’s Bay more than 11 recovery sites have been completed from a total of 156. A further 33 are in construction and 53 in design.

From next week, TREC is hosting a series of community drop-in sessions (details below) for local communities to get to know more about TREC’s ongoing recovery work, to meet the team and share local knowledge. We’ll be asking people for their views and feedback on potential long-term rebuild projects at Eskdale at the intersection of SH2 and SH5 Napier-Taupō Road, and SH2 at Devil’s Elbow.

At the same time, we’ll be providing a progress update on SH2 Waikare Gorge project, and talking about resilience sites being investigated along SH2 and SH5.

These initial projects are a key focus because they’re all critically important parts of the network to keep freight moving and communities connected, especially in emergencies.

TREC Hawke’s Bay spokesperson Jacob Laird says hi-vis vests and hard hats are a common sight on our network and will be for a number of years.

“These drop in sessions are the perfect opportunity to meet some of the TREC team behind those hi-vis vests and hard hats.

“We want to hear from the people who live and work in these communities and who drive the state highway network regularly.

“We value the support of local communities and communities for their support since Cyclone Gabrielle. We do want to reiterate our thanks to people for their support while we restore access and rebuild a more resilient network,” says Mr Laird.

TREC wants as many people as possible to have their say on the network, and in particular the current focus areas of Esk Valley, and Devil’s Elbow. People who can’t make any of the drop-in sessions are being invited to have their say via an online questionnaire, open from next Monday 18 March through to 16 April on the TREC webpage of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

NZ Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC)

There will be more opportunities to share your views on rebuild work and help shape the future of the East Coast state highway network.

Details of the community drop-in sessions, starting next Monday: