Tasman District Council is one of ten councils receiving a share of $7.728 million from the government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund allocated to upgrade early warning flood systems across the country.
The project in Tasman includes upgrades and the bridging current system gaps, blind spots and potential failure points identified in network reviews and learnings from national flood events. Works include installation of cameras at key sites, enhanced utilisation of digital/satellite technology, relaying of information in real time to the Tasman District Council website and other channels, and installation of the equipment.
The improved systems will provide benefits to many areas of Council works, as well as complementing the new rain radar planned for the region by Metservice. It will also contribute to decisions related to emergency management in flood events.
Some of this work is already well underway as part of efforts to recover from the weather event of June/ July 2025. This includes new technology introduced near the Wairoa Gorge as well as the upgrade of a site in the upper Motueka catchment.
The programme of work spans across the district – Waimea, Motueka and Tākaka Rivers, as well as increasing resources in areas such as Motupiko, Riwaka, and sections of the Wai-iti River.
60% of the total cost of the programme will be covered by funding administered by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit. The remaining 40% of the programme costs will be met by Tasman District Council directly. Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) is overseeing the total program on behalf of councils.
