As one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing districts, Waikato District is constantly balancing the need for rapid growth with the delivery of high-quality infrastructure. While we strive to get things right, the pace and complexity of growth means we might not get it right every time. The Munro Road resilience project is an example where unexpected challenges led to additional costs and important lessons for the future.
What happened?
Council incurred $270,000 in costs as part of the Munro Road resilience project under our contractual obligations after critical underground power cables that cannot be moved were discovered. Once these cables were identified, the project could not proceed as planned and a full redesign was required.
Despite the best efforts of our team, the contract had to be stopped. However, under the terms of the contract, Council still had to meet certain costs, which is where the $270,000 costs comes from.
Why did this happen?
The Munro Road project was designed to raise the road above potential flood levels and improve resilience for the community. The discovery of high-voltage, immoveable cables was unprecedented and presented a significant technical challenge. These cables are a critical part of the infrastructure that supports water supply to Auckland, making their relocation impossible.
How did Council respond?
Councillors were kept informed of the situation and the challenges as they unfolded. When the issue was identified, Council acted quickly to halt works and negotiate the best possible outcome. In June/July 2025, Council considered and approved the associated costs in an open meeting, ensuring transparency.
What’s changing?
We have already put steps in place to ensure we mitigate the risk of similar issues in the future:
- More rigorous feasibility and service identification before contracts are awarded.
- Stronger project management oversight to ensure all underground services are identified and risks are managed early.
- Improved communication and reporting to keep councillors and the community informed throughout project delivery.
What’s next for Munro Road?
The Munro Road resilience work remains a priority for Council. Design, consenting, and property negotiations are continuing, and once these are complete, the project will move forward when funding is secured from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi for construction.
A timeline of key events
- February 2024: Contract awarded and works prepared to start.
- Mid 2024: Work halted after discovery of critical underground power cables.
- September 2024: Contract formally ended; Council negotiated to reduce costs and liabilities. Councillors informed.
- December 2024: Community update that work had stopped through news items and the Community Board.
- June/July 2025: Council considered and approved $270,000 in costs in an open meeting.
- September 2025: Design, consenting, and property negotiations continue.
Looking forward
The lessons from Munro Road are already shaping how we deliver growth infrastructure. We are committed to transparency and continuous improvement, and we thank our community for their understanding as we work to deliver resilient, future-proofed infrastructure for our fast-growing district.
Under my leadership, I have asked our teams to be “risk aware” across all projects - considering time, cost, and quality so we achieve the best outcomes for our residents and communities. The vast majority of the many projects we deliver each year go to plan and achieve the results intended. On a few occasions where things where things don’t go as expected, the key is that we learn from them and ensure they are not repeated.
If you have questions or want to know more about the Munro Road project or our approach to infrastructure delivery, please contact us.
Ngaa mihi
Craig Hobbs
Chief Executive
