MEDIA RELEASE
Horizons Regional Council

Wednesday 28 March, 2012

Public meetings to discuss flood protection

Managing the region’s flood and erosion risks is big business for Horizons Regional Council and residents are being encouraged to find out more during a series of public meetings.

Over half the region’s population lives on floodplains and Horizons manages 33 river and drainage schemes throughout the region to help protect lives and livelihoods during major flood events and to enhance economic activity.

This year’s meetings, held throughout April and the first week of May, will focus on work carried out on these schemes over the past 12 months as well as proposed river control, flood protection and drainage work for the next financial year. The level of scheme rates proposed to fund these works will be discussed and there will be a chance for people to ask questions of Horizons councillors and operations staff.

Horizons area engineer Derek McKee says the Lower Manawatu Flood Control Scheme offers protection to thousands of hectares of productive farmland and homes and businesses in urban areas and he strongly encourages people to attend the scheme meetings.

“Millions of dollars are spent each year on maintenance and capital upgrade works on the Manawatu River and it’s tributaries that lie within the scheme boundaries.

“The scheme has reached the half way mark with its major flood protection upgrade project and it is timely that we provide stakeholders with an update on both physical and financial progress with this important project,” he said.

This year will also see the completion of work to repair damage caused by flooding in September 2010.

Anyone who would like to know more about the Lower Manawatu Scheme is welcome to attend the annual scheme ratepayer meeting to be held at the Kairanga School hall on Monday the 16th of April at 10am.

Details of all Horizons annual ratepayer scheme meetings can be found on Horizons website www.horizons.govt.nz

ENDS

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