The $30m Plan To Protect Masterton From Major Flooding Cost

Tuesday, 18 February 2025, 9:52 pm
Article: Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter

Solutions to protect urban Masterton against a major flood will cost $30 million to implement.

Greater Wellington Regional Council was seeking feedback on flood management options developed by the council, community members and mana whenua to protect the urban area at risk of flooding from the Waipoua River.

It is hoped the work would safeguard against the devastation of a Cyclone Gabrielle-sized event.

Parts of the Masterton urban area were at risk from flooding in a one percent AEP flood - a flood that has a one to 100 chance of occurring in any given year - and severe weather events were likely to become more unpredictable and hazardous due to climate change, a regional council spokesperson said.

The cost of the work would equate to an average total regional council rates increase of $10 per $100,000 CV.

Greater Wellington's director for knowledge and insights Dave Hipkins said there were a number of draft concepts that provided flood protection from the Waipoua River.

"We now want to hear what locals think about each of them, and from there, bring together the best features," he said.

"We would like significant local input on this project, due to the value of the community's knowledge and experience and because we understand the significant impact the options could have on local assets such as parks.

"We want to take the time to listen and understand different perspectives and work together to develop the best possible outcome for the entire community."

The four concepts for managing the flood risk to Masterton included improving and extending stopbanks in existing locations, increasing channel capacity through extensive work in the channel, retreating some stopbanks and implementing nature-based solutions in the upper catchment.

In addition to the concepts, there were other proposals to reduce the impacts of flooding, including protection work near the bridges and embankments to safeguard several areas of Masterton.

Hipkins said this work was the beginning of a long-term project to improve the area's flood resilience.

"While these are the first steps in addressing the immediate risk within the urban area, in the future we will also be looking at nature-based solutions in the upper catchment areas, allowing us to work with the land rather than against it."

People wishing to contribute to the planning and offer feedback could do so in person at a range of drop-in sessions or online at haveyoursay.gw.govt.nz/waipouafloodconcepts.

Consultation would close on Sunday, March 16, 2025.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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