Tararua District Council’s Route 52 upgrade has been recognised nationally, with the project selected as a finalist in the Community category of the Āpōpō Asset Management Excellence Awards.

Āpōpō is the professional association for Aotearoa New Zealand’s infrastructure asset management community. The awards recognise best practice and the Tararua entry was selected alongside 10 finalists from all over the country. Entrants had to show the judging panel how their project is an exemplar of infrastructure asset management excellence.

Four years after starting as a ‘shovel ready’ project after Covid-19, the Huarahi Tūhono - Route 52 Upgrade has fortified a vital section of road between Weber and Wimbledon. The upgrade has made this lifeline route safer and more resilient, making a meaningful difference for Tararua District’s rural and coastal communities.

Council’s roading team Tararua Alliance - a partnership between the Council and Downer - delivered the project with local subcontractors HES Earthmoving and Alabaster Contracting. The project navigated three cyclones and 10 storms, including Cyclone Gabrielle. The programme included bridge assessments, drainage installation, road widening, stabilisation, resurfacing and resilience improvements.

Tararua Mayor Tracey Collis said the project has made this critical stretch of Route 52 safer and more resilient, as well as achieving the primary goal of getting the local economy going again. “This project has given us a robust and reliable transport option between our neighbouring regions and reliable income and stability for local people after Covid-19. The award is wonderful news for everyone who worked on the project and receiving national recognition shows that the way we are building roading infrastructure in Tararua is something to be really proud of.”  

Tararua District Council Group Manager - Infrastructure Hamish Featonby says the project prioritised local people and materials, creating the equivalent of full-time work for 230 people, 91% of whom were locals. “Working on Route 52 gave local contractors an opportunity to build their capacity and capability. The project team worked closely with landowners to achieve more resilience for the road network through proactive land management.”

Winners will be announced on 15 May at the Āpōpō conference in Christchurch.