Project Start Year: 2023
This project involves raising and strengthening floodwalls and stopbanks to protect the Ōpōtiki town centre. Work will include raising the height of these defences by 600mm to 800mm. Existing culverts will also be replaced and upgraded, as well as repairing any identified existing defects.
Benefits, Adaptation and Resilience
The Ōpōtiki town centre is surrounded by flood defences (such as stopbanks and floodwalls) which help reduce the impacts of flooding on the community. Through Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Asset Management Plan, these flood defences need to be able to meet a 1% annual probability event (AEP). This is a flood event of a significant size and scale.
Data from the latest modelling, which accounts for climate change and sea level rise predictions, showed that the flood defences along the Ōtara River between Princess Street and Richard Street need upgrading to meet this requirement.
Collaboration
This work is being supported by Ōpōtiki District Council to ensure the project provides for local infrastructure and the community’s recreational needs. This project has received co-investment funding from central government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF).
To find out more please visit: Waioweka-Otara Rivers scheme.
