Hi Martin. Lovely to see you again. Can you tell us what you would like the business community to know about RiverLink?

Certainly. Businesses should be aware of the scale of RiverLink. This is a huge project that will protect the Lower Hutt central city from flooding events for generations to come, improve transport connections and change the face of the city.

It’s an extensive infrastructure project and notable investment in Lower Hutt, with over $460m already allocated. During the course of the project and upon completion, there will be major opportunities for the business community to benefit from RiverLink.

We’ve been hearing about RiverLink for some time now. Are you telling us it’s finally happening?

Yes. Absolutely. RiverLink is almost here. We plan to lodge our application for resource consent in the next couple of months and we need to get ready. The project is still in the pre-lodgement planning phase so it’s important the business community is aware of the project and what it will offer for the community.

What can we expect from RiverLink?

Hutt City is set to become a more attractive place to live, work and play. The river corridor is being redesigned to allow the river itself more space and become more prominent. In a sense, RiverLink enables opportunities, turning the city around to face the river. The river will become the main feature, with Lower Hutt making its mark as a “river city” with its own unique waterfront. The redevelopment of the riverside area will create a parklike reserve, a connected walkway and cycleway network, and create an environment where people will want to spend more time enjoying the area, the local cafes and restaurants and views of the river.

Improving transport links and flood protection are also other key elements of the project. The need for relocation of a new Melling Station will make commuter access and egress into the city quicker and safer. The Melling traffic lights on SH2 will be replaced by a new, safer grade separated interchange with, pedestrian and cycleway links, and on and off ramps and a Hutt River bridge to replace the existing narrow Melling Bridge.

Click the image above to see the February 2021 update

Tell us more about the stages, particularly Stage I

Stage I is likely to start with the construction of a new stopbank and a realigned section of Pharazyn Street to accommodate the new station works and carpark. River protection works will get underway and traffic flow will change, with the existing roundabouts on High Street and Queens Drive and Melling/Pretoria Street being replaced with traffic light intersections. This work is not expected to begin until late 2022.

Estimates on how many people the project will employ will be available shortly after conclusion of the tender stage, however it is envisaged that a project of this scale will warrant a significant number of people and we will also be encouraging opportunities as part of the tender process.

What opportunities will there be for business?

RiverLink will move traffic up and down the area much more easily, not just in the Lower Hutt CBD. This will allow businesses throughout the Hutt valley to easily trade with one another. There are likely to be a number of opportunities for suppliers and businesses and a need for local labour, with plenty of construction activity during the delivery programme of work.

The new riverside area will facilitate opportunities for new cafes, restaurants, entertainment spaces and outside walking and cycling spaces, attracting visitors to the area from the region. This will support and facilitate new visitors to the Lower Hutt area overall, benefiting the wider business community. The riverside area will also offer new inner city living opportunities, increasing footfall in the CBD.

There will be new native plantings and easy access provided to the river. This is a major redevelopment, setting the scene for wider transformation and redevelopment of large portions of the city, freeing up sites for apartment housing with river views.

This enhanced riverside area will create an increasing need to supply the workers and businesses involved in the project and post-project with catering, raw materials, construction supplies, workforce, including creating many future opportunities for young people.