Ground Anchor Systems Limited

Quick update from the Moonlight Track Slip

We’ve now finished spraying 40 MPa shotcrete over the mesh, which ties into the anchors we installed previously.

Once it’s cured, the anchor plates go on to lock everything off, securing the slope at the base of the road.

A relatively small job for us, but one that will have a big impact on the residents in the area.

Earlier this year the team wrapped up a challenging slope stabilisation project on Botanical Hill in Nelson, delivered for Nelson City Council alongside Environmental Engineers, NZ+AU

Before a single bolt could go in, our rope access team manually cleared around 90m³ of material and vegetation from the face entirely by hand. With no machinery access and limited room to move, it was a significant undertaking.

From there, 30 rock bolts were drilled 6 metres into the slope, with all drilling carried out from a basket suspended by a 60 tonne crane to keep the work safe and accurate on a steep face. The bolts then anchored the steel detail and drainage system before 50m³ of steel reinforced shotcrete was applied over two days, working from a fixed man cage on a hiab truck.

Black oxide was added to the mix to help the finished surface sit naturally within the environment, an important detail on a landmark like Botanical Hill.

We’re really happy with how this one came together, and looking forward to more work with NCC and Tonkin + Taylor down the track.

Moonlight Track, Queenstown : Slope stabilisation underway.

Following a slip below the road, our team installed eight self-drilling anchors beneath the road last week to secure the slope.

Next week we’ll return to apply 200mm of shotcrete across the face, before fitting anchor plates to lock the system off, delivering a stabilised, safe road for the community.

Takaka Hill, Nelson

Client : .nz &
Scope of works : Anchored Shotcrete and Horizontal Drain Install

Six months of hard work on Takaka Hill are now complete!

Following the major storm event in 2025, Ground Anchor Systems was engaged by Fulton Hogan and NZTA to deliver the anchored shotcrete and horizontal drainage works across multiple sites on Takaka Hill. The slips caused significant ground movement, elevated groundwater pressures, and a loss of road width, requiring a fast, coordinated response to stabilise the hillside, dewater the slope, and keep this vital State Highway route open.

Ground Anchor Systems, working alongside Fulton Hogan and Stantec, has delivered all site works on this critical project strengthening the only route between Golden Bay and Nelson.

Across the programme we installed 1000m of ground anchors, 350m² of shotcrete, 1700m of horizontal drains, and 2000m² of coconut matting, all while keeping traffic moving through the site.

This was a huge effort from the crew and a project we’re proud to deliver, improving long term stability and resilience on this vital corridor. Even better, it’s been great to see the works performing exactly as intended. Effective, stable, and already proving their value to the route.

Atley Road, Arthurs Point

We’re currently on site at Arthurs Point working alongside Strata on a retaining wall stabilisation project following a retaining wall failure and subsequent slip.

We’re drilling to approximately 12 metres, hitting rock at 6m and continuing a further 6m into solid rock to achieve a solid bond for our fully encapsulated anchors. Once installed, Strata will drill and install their piles between our anchors, waler beams will then be fitted between the piles, and our anchors will lock off against these to secure the wall and prevent any future movement.

The main challenge on this job has been the soft ground conditions above the rock. To keep the hole stable we’re using the Robit Casing System, advancing the casing as we drill and retracting it section by section once the anchor is in place and grouted. It adds time to the process but ensures a clean hole, a good grout column, and a reliable bond into the rock.

Great work from the team here on navigating a tricky site.