The Contour Channel project is the largest of the projects in the ORC Climate Resilience Programme and includes 3.5km of channel upgrades and the replacement of two ORC owned bridges. It is one of four projects which together makes up the ORC’s Climate Resilience Programme.
The Contour Channel intercepts runoff from various steep streams on the Maungatua Range and conveying the runoff into Lake Waipori, protecting 7,300ha of highly productive farmland, Dunedin International Airport, and the surrounding community from inundation in a heavy rainfall event.
Initially constructed in the early 1900’s, the upgrade brings the channel up to present-day construction standards by improving the floodbank’s resilience. These works form part of ongoing improvements required across ORC’s floodbanks to ensure resilience and mitigation to flooding events is at a sustainable level.
Across Otago there are seven flood schemes protecting approximately 43,000ha of land, which include 218km of flood banks and 12 pumping stations.
