A collaborative project to make Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi / Maketū estuary healthier for people to swim and fish in has won two ACE Awards.

The project took out the Special Award, which recognises outstanding collaboration, and engineering consultancy WSP took out a Silver Award, which acknowledges great consulting service.

The health of the estuary collapsed in the 1950s when the Kaituna River was diverted away from its natural outlet to be drained and turned into farmland, says a spokesperson in a statement released by ACE this week.

Ninety per cent of wetlands were lost and populations of fish and shellfish plummeted, which came at a significant cost for tangata whenua.

WSP was hired by Bay of Plenty Regional Council to restore the mauri of the estuary by increasing the volume of water from the Kaituna River, maximising the ecological and cultural benefits, limiting the economic cost and adverse environmental effects, and ensuring flood protection and access for boats.

This was no small feat. Construction began in June 2018 and the project was completed in February 2020, on budget and five months ahead of schedule.

The wetlands are now a thriving place for kaimoana and the fish are now the main source of protein for some locals. T

he ACE Awards judges recognised WSP for its consulting excellence in consenting and stakeholder engagement.

The outstanding depth and extent of technical expertise in securing resource consents were critical to the success of the project.

"WSP really listened to the needs of the community, including local iwi and the coastguard,and adapted its solution based on feedback they received," says ACE New Zealand Chief Executive Helen Davidson.

"Council had been trying to fix the problem since the 1970s, with not much success. Now, because of WSP's excellence in consultation, the council has a closer relationship with local iwi."

The Special Award recognises outstanding collaboration leading to exceptional outcomes between WSP, Beca, ICE Civil and Geo, DHI, Riverlake, Norconsult, Eco Nomos, Waterline, Discovery Marine, Cooney Lees Morgan, J Swap Contractors, Pacific 7, MAP Projects, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the local community and residents.