The Project

As a lot of the Kaipara District in North Auckland is flat and subject to flooding, it necessitates stop banks to contain rivers with floodgates provided to allow water to drain away when the tide or river level has dropped.

Traditionally these floodgate sections have been constructed from steel pipe, however with unstable ground, floating log damage and corrosive conditions service life can be very short.

Looking to improve on the situation Solo Plastics were approached for a plastic option. DN 800 PPS Frank PR profile pipe was chosen and a floodgate assembly manufactured that incorporated a semi box section polyethylene wing wall with a polyethylene flap valve suspended on chains.

The added advantages include a light weight assembly allowing placement in situ by a digger between tides, and enough strength to sustain traffic loadings along the tops of the stop bank.