Local company, Wharehine Construction, has been awarded the contract to build the new 1.35 km Matakana Link Road, which will link State Highway One and Matakana, giving travellers the option to bypass Warkworth and the traffic it accumulates.

Wharehine employs locals and expects 120 staff to be working on the project. Preperation work has started with the bulk of the work to begin in October.

The company was established in 1955, and in 2009 it became wholly owned by four New Zealanders, Rob Gibson, Steve Dodd, Phillip Schmidt and Ant Frith.

Locals seem to be thrilled with the decision, one saying, “Finally, and I would say, following many public consultation meetings, AT have recognised the skill and capability of a local contractor. Congrats Wharehine. You have always been a top performer”.

The Matakana Link Road project consists of a four-lane road from SH1 to Matakana, and the work will include provision for safe walking and bike riding. AT is also building a new bridge which will involve the removal of vegetation and some replanting.

The population of Warkworth and its surrounding areas expected to grow by 20,000 over the next 30 years, and the road aims to facilitate this and improve the efficiency, resilience and safety of the local transport network, including access to and from east coast settlements and beaches.

A local company getting the contract is a big win for the area, as it creates jobs and feeds back into the local economy, something we need after the tough first half of the year.