Built in 1939, the Awaroa/ Godley Head coastal defence battery sits atop a 120-metre-high cliff, and is ranked as one of New Zealand’s top coastal defence heritage sites. Many of the site’s significant historical structures were severely damaged by the 2010/ 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. When the time came to look towards restoration, the Department of Conservation commissioned heritage experts Joseph & Associates to manage the project.
The Joseph’s team initially undertook a reverse cost engineering exercise which allowed DOC to quickly understand the extent of the works they could undertake within budget.
The resulting project consisted of the repair and strengthening of two gun emplacement structures and one underground magazine, with Joseph’s managing the structural design, tender process, cost review and full construction management of the project on site.
Potential risks and issues were identified and mitigated at the outset of the project. Difficult site access and security concerns were pinpointed and expertly managed through clear communication between consultants, contractors and client.
The specialist skills of the Joseph’s team were highlighted throughout the project. Value engineering allowed for more concrete crack repairs to be undertaken than originally anticipated within budget, and to ensure buildability, a series of modified construction solutions were quickly developed when the engineering plans originally put forward didn’t quite work on site.
With the Godley Head restoration project completed in February of 2020 – on time and to budget – visitors are once again able to explore this significant slice of New Zealand history.
The core team from Joseph & Associates:
Design & Procurement Lead – John Craig
Construction & Compliance Lead – Richard Bullett
Sharon Nichol
Euan Gutteridge
Kirien Withers