A call for Government funding for flood defence projects has been renewed ahead of next month’s budget.
Regional councils have made the case for nearly $200 million in funding from the Government to deliver 80 flood protection projects quicker.
“We can’t do this alone,” Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Daran Ponter said.
“We’re hopeful that either via the budget or through a separate funding arrangement the Government will put co-investment into 80 flood protection schemes in most regions of the country.”
The Government funding request totals $197.61 million, with the total programme cost, including local government investment, totalling $329.35 million.
“This money from the Government will allow the projects to move at a faster pace, several years in advance of where they might otherwise be if regional councils do the work by themselves,” Ponter said.
He said most of the projects have been consented to.
Environment Canterbury Chair Peter Scott said as well as improving stop banks, the projects vary from removing shingle from riverbeds, removing slash, planting near rivers and moving infrastructure that’s nearby to safer locations.
“Getting on top of our river issues in New Zealand from regional council’s perspective across the country is the most urgent issue we have,” Scott said.
“They (Government) assure us that that’s the top of their hearts, but whether it’s top of the Budget or not, we don’t know so we’re looking forward to the budget.”
The chairmen led the creation of Before the Deluge 2.0, a November 2023 report making the case for Government co-investment based on their original report, which was created before Cyclone Hale and Gabrielle struck.
Climate change has increased the risk of flooding
Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry said locals are glad that construction is underway on a stop bank improvement project between Melling Link Bridge and Mills Street.
“That they can, you know, sleep a little bit easier at night when the rain comes down and the river level rises,” he said.
The project has already been funded, but there are other projects in the wider Wellington region that are part of the Before the Deluge 2.0 funding case.
The stop bank is being widened and heightened by 1.5 metres. When combined with other Te Awa Kairangi (formerly known as RiverLink) programme projects, such as widening the river, the protection will rise from withstanding a one-in-65-year flood event to a one-in-440-year flood event.
“We do always have to draw a line of what we think we can build to and what we think we can provide protection for; we are confident that once this work is complete that it would be able to withstand some pretty significant events,” Barry said.
“We can never predict the future of how extreme weather events might become but it will be a significant improvement for what is the most densely populated floodplain in New Zealand.”
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop agrees that Government co-investment is important.
“These are multi-generational investments and it’s important that Government looks at it like that and that’s certainly the way in which we are looking at it,” he said.
Bishop didn’t comment on the amount of funding the Government is considering.
“We’re taking a close look at it, and you know if, and when we’re in a position to say more about it, you’ll be one of the first to know,” he said.