I had a good tour of important infrastructure improvements around Dargaville last week.
Beach Road culvert and flood gate upgrade
Contractor: Barfoote Construction
The weather events in early 2023 caused severe flooding in the catchment upstream from the Beach Rd area and resulted in flooding on Beach Road, the farmland to the North of Beach Road and the surrounding properties near the Beach Road floodgate.
The culvert and flood gate were undersized and unable to cope with the extreme volume of water. At the time, urgent action was taken, to manually pump the flood water away using tractor mounted pumps.
The new floodgate and connecting box culvert is sized to cope with future extreme weather events, greatly reducing and mitigating the risk of flooding to the road, surrounding area and the up-stream properties.
Victoria Street Floodwall improvements
Contractor: Huband Contractors
Through Crown Infrastructure Partners central government made funds available via the Local Government Flood Resilience Co-investment Fund for councils that had suffered severe damage through the adverse weather events of 2023.
KDC was successful in applying for funds for several projects, including for Victoria Street and the Beach Road culvert upgrade.
In mid-2025 the Victoria Street floodwall was repaired and extended, with new kerb, channel, and footpath upgrades. These improvements enhanced stormwater outflow, strengthened existing defences, and increased capacity to handle future weather events.
Extension of wall toward the river was completed in January 2026.
Selwyn Park improvements
Contractor: Red Dell
The project started onsite in December 2025 and includes removing the unsafe State Highway 12 access, putting in a new vehicle entrance from Carrington Street, building new paths and parking areas, improving drainage, and adding fencing.
The project main contractor is Red Dell. Project practically complete except for fencing which will start soon (separate contractor).
Dargaville to Te Kopuru stopbank upgrade
The stopbank upgrade is being delivered by Te Taitokerau Water Trust thanks to a generous $7.8million central government grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, in-kind landowner contributions and KDC funding contributions.
The physical work has been progressing for about four months, and it will take around two years to complete the project.
They are building the stopbank up to 3.5 metres high from about 2m currently along about 11 km of stopbank.
Photo: The new box culvert at Beach Rd
L to R Project delivery Manager Bryan Hagan, Roading contract manager Daniel Dreadon, Mayor Jonathan Larsen, Dennis Fyfe Barfotte Construction, Ross Olsen KDC Project Manager, Deputy Mayor Gordon Lambeth
Photo: The Victoria Street floodwall extension
L to R Project delivery manager Bryan Hagan, Deputy Mayor Gordon Lambeth, Mayor Jonathan Larsen
Photo: Testing the new parking bench at Selwyn Park
L to R Mayor Jonathan Larsen, Deputy Mayor Gordon Lambeth, Project delivery Manager Bryan Hagan
