Communities across Tairāwhiti were impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. A major consequence was reduced drain channel capacity.
We've secured $71.1m funding to deliver flood resilience improvements to reduce risk to life, maintain insurability and reduce risk to critical infrastructure while considering sites of cultural significance and the impacts of climate change.
Of the $71.1m, $64m is from the government's $204m cyclone support package with Council funding $7.1m for flood resilience and protection.
Funding is for work in:
- Waipaoa - $20.46m
- Te Karaka - $13.2m
- Gisborne city - $15.05m
- Te Arai - $1.2m
- East Coast (Uawa, Tokomaru Bay, Makarika, Tikitiki) - $22.4m
We're engaging with all communities to develop flood resilience options. The final recommendations will need government approval.
Stages of the project
We will complete the work in 3 stages, finishing by 2028.
We're identifying cost-effective ways to reduce and mitigate the risks of future damage from a significant flood event to these communities.
The main tasks include:
Studying river changes (geomorphology) looking at historic data, maps, aerial images, matauranga and local knowledge.
Surveying rivers using LiDAR from a helicopter and Sonar from a boat
Options assessment applying the PARA framework (Protect, Accommodate, Retreat, Avoid) to explore all possible flood resilience options.
Developing computer flood models to simulate floods and evaluate different solutions.
Assessing solutions considering the modelled impacts on flood levels, cultural values, environmental effects, financial costs and a range or other criteria
We're talking with local communities, iwi and infrastructure owners to discuss a long list of possible mitigations and solutions for our catchment areas.
This involves securing funding, creating concept designs, and obtaining resource consents to move the project forward.
We’ll complete the detailed design and put the chosen solutions into action.
This could include physical works, evacuation plans, changes to district planning rules, or other measures to improve flood resilience.
Details of work in catchment areas
Te Arai Catchment
Waingake, Manutuke, Hangaroa, Waerenga-o-Kuri
East Coast
Tolaga Bay, Tokomaru Bay, Makarika and Tikitiki
Gisborne city
Waimata, Taruheru and Turanganui rivers
Te Karaka
The township and outer areas that experienced flooding
Waipaoa Flood Control
64km of stopbanks along the Waipaoa River