A key piece of Eastern Bay of Plenty flood protection infrastructure has been officially opened, showing how innovation, collaboration and technology can come together for the benefit of the community. On Saturday, 10 May, Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Ngāti Awa representatives and Associate Regional Development Minister, Hon. Mark Patterson gathered with local community members to officially open the Rangitāiki Floodway and Spillway.
The event marked the completion of the $50m project, which has been engineered to take pressure off the flood prone Rangitāiki River by diverting some of its flow into the floodway during significant weather events.
The project demonstrates the importance of listening to and working with ratepayers to develop and fund key infrastructure, particularly in an environment where the impact of climate change is increasingly ‘front and centre’ in decisions underpinning long term community resilience. The success of the project is credited to the combined effort of the community, Ngāti Awa, the Regional Council, Whakatāne and Kawerau District Councils, and Central Government.
The project significantly strengthens the region’s infrastructure. As one of the biggest flood resilience efforts completed in New Zealand in recent years, it will deliver vital protection for local communities and unlock economic potential across the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
The project was undertaken using an integrated approach by Regional Council’s engineering, assets and operations teams, as well as implementing best practise approaches and exploring innovation when it came to engineering designs. The Spillway upgrade is a great example of what happens when you combine robust data and modelling with innovative engineering and community input.
Now complete, the Rangitāiki Floodway and Spillway assets form part of a network of flood defences along the Rangitāiki River. This includes the recent upgrades to Rangitāiki River Floodwalls and Lower Rangitāiki Stopbanks at the river mouth near Thornton.
