The Millwater Development stands as one of New Zealand's most successful mid to upper-range housing projects, showcasing innovation, meticulous design, effective management, and quality construction. Situated on former farmland west of the original Orewa township and bordering the sensitive Orewa estuary, the project has evolved into a thriving urban neighborhood, requiring precise stakeholder management and construction practices alongside ongoing residential development.

Hick Bros has been instrumental in completing earthworks for around 2200 residential lots, with the final subdivision comprising 2500 lots. The extensive scope covered bulk earthworks, shear keys, subsoil/counterfort drainage, gravity and pressure sewer work, stormwater culverts up to 2100mm in diameter, and temporary and permanent stormwater retention ponds. The multi-stage civil works included roads, footpaths, and services, with notable features like over 50 shear keys, in-ground pile walls, and 50 reinforced earth walls reaching up to 12m in height.

Successfully completing over 14 separate earthworks and civils packages to date, the project involved intricate geotechnical remedial work and the admixture stabilization of challenging engineering soils. Civil stages encompassed basecourse preparation for arterial and residential roads, as well as high-end concrete works and paving.

‍