Waitara flood protection scheme protects the area

The Waitara flood protection scheme coped relatively easily against last weekend’s flood, says the Taranaki Regional Council.

“At its highest the river level in Waitara during last weekend’s 19-21 June flood was a one-in-16-year flow,” says the Council Chief Executive Basil Chamberlain.

“This was a moderate flow, rather than a large flood in Waitara, and a relatively minor test for the protection works. The upgrade is in its final stages to protect the town from a one-in-100-year standard,” he said.

Mr Chamberlain says the value of the Waitara upgrade, and the earlier Lower Waiwhakaiho upgrade to a similar 100-year standard, can be measured from the flooding in Whanganui. Its stopbanks, which were recently upgraded to an inadequate one-in-50-year standard, were overwhelmed by last weekend’s one-in-85-year flood. The consequences of that decision had proved costly

“The $3 million upgrade project to boost Waitara’s flood protection is designed to protect the town from such damage. The Council is determined to see the upgrade completed to the highest reasonable standard and to be as resilient as possible.

“A one-in-100-year flow is estimated at around 3,800 cubic metres per second which is more than twice the highest flow measured at 1,640 cubic metres last weekend. A one-in-100-year flood would be about three metres higher, with a substantially higher flow velocity.

“Following the recent floods there has been continued discussion around the decision to remove some pohutukawa trees to upgrade the scheme.

“The Council is determined that the Waitara flood scheme copes at its optimum design level. The pohutukawa trees were removed to strengthen the resilience of the flood protection upgrade and its ability to perform against really large floods, which would devastate Waitara if the defences fail.

“We’re made big investments in flood protection at Waitara and the Lower Waiwhakaiho, and it’s clear that these were the right decisions. The Council is absolutely committed to giving the Waitara people and businesses the level of flood protection they deserve,” says Mr Chamberlain.

ends

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