Maitai Valley - Nelson

Maitai Valley - Nelson

Client : Nelson City Council

Work is progressing well in Maitai Valley for Nelson City Council, where our team is installing 30 rock bolts embedded 6‑metres into the slope to stabilise the hillside.

To complete the drilling safely and accurately, we’re operating from a drill basket suspended by a 60‑tonne crane. Before drilling could begin, the crew manually removed approximately 90m³ of material and vegetation from the slope, a significant challenge given the limited access and the inability to bring machinery onto the face.

Our rope-access team has carried out all clearing work by hand, ensuring the site is prepared to the highest standard.

Once the bolts are installed, they will anchor 180m² of shotcrete, scheduled to be applied as part of the long‑term stabilisation solution.

Howard Narrows - Nelson

Howard Narrows - State Highway 63, Nelson

Client : Fulton Hogan and NZTA
Scope of works : Rockfall Mitigation Works

Back in May 2025 Ground Anchor Systems was contracted to Fulton Hogan to complete rock fall mitigation works at the Howard Narrows for NZTA.

The works consisted of scaling across 4 sites on the narrow stretch of road. The installation of 86 rock bolts was completed over 15 days of drilling, then a total of 650m2 of Tecco mesh was used to secure the face.

All the drilling was completed using a Crane Basket suspended off a 60ft crane. This allowed for high production and a safer approach compared a traditional A-frame drilling rig.

The onsite geology dictated that a layer of sacrificial Tecco mesh be installed prior to drilling. This then allowed for a top-down approach to stabilise the area with production rock bolts and mesh allowing the drilling crew to work safely below.

This project was successfully completed over a short time frame and in some very challenging weather conditions. The success is due to a strong collaborative approach between Ground Anchor Systems, Fulton Hogan, WSP NZ and NZTA.