The objective of the project was to future-proof the Whitianga Marina and adapt to the changing marine market. To achieve this, a more efficient use of the current marina footprint was required which resulted in replacing the old rock rip rap breakwater, thereby increasing the capacity of the Whitianga Marina. The project was spearheaded by Lorenzo Canal, an industry-leading and highly experienced Project Director and Engineer to Contract. Lorenzo and his team oversaw the design and construction of the 250m long vertical steel & pre-cast concrete panel breakwater, which welcomed new berth holders at the beginning of April 2023.

Lorenzo’s involvement in the recent upgrade and his role as design manager, project director, and Engineer to Contract on this multi-million construction contract highlights his pivotal contribution to the project’s success. The fast-track project was completed to budget and within expected timeframes, exceeding the expectations of the project team, despite challenges such as long lead times on steel, international supply chain issues, Covid-19, extreme weather events and inflationary pressures.

Urban Solutions, the project’s lead consultant and Engineer to the Contract worked closely with renowned marina designer Rob Brown from Shorewise, and drove the integrated design team to reach engineering solutions that were cost-effective and well-suited to the unique site characteristics. The development is a testament to Urban Solutions’ commitment to delivering high-quality infrastructure solutions that meet the needs of local communities and are completed to the high satisfaction of the client.

The development included pre-fabricated concrete slabs, headstocks, beams, collars and piers that were cast off-site, and up to 19m long pile sleeves that were vibro-hammered into the marine sediment. The new vertical break wall falls within the existing resource consent footprint for the marina, but due to the significant space saving from the legacy rock break-wall structure, the new design outcome better utilises the marina’s space and increases the service offering for the marina.