Project Start Year: 2025
The Kaikōura Flood Resilience Infrastructure Upgrades project improves flood resilience across the Kaikōura district. The project scope includes vegetation clearance to increase flood capacity, channel improvements and berm strengthening along the Kowhai River, improvements to the township floodwall along Lyell Creek, as well as purchasing and strategic placement of rock for erosion protection works.
Benefits
The project improves flood resilience for local community, regional and national assets valued at around $203 million, including 8946 hectares of land, 797 properties, SH1, KiwiRail, Kowhai Ford and three schools around of the townships of Kaikōura.
Adaptation and Resilience
Events such as the 2023 Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle have shown that extreme rainfall and flooding are occurring more often and causing more damage than in the past. Scientific evidence points to climate change increasing the intensity and frequency of these events. This project supports the future climate and flood resilience of the region through the upgrade and repair of critical flood protection infrastructure embracing the full PARA approach to flood risk – Protect, Accommodate, Retreat, Avoid (see image).
Collaboration
This project has been co-funded through central government’s Regional Investment Fund (RIF) and Environment Canterbury
This project includes vegetation clearance to increase flood capacity, channel improvements and berm strengthening along the Kowhai River, improvements to the township floodwall along Lyell Creek, as well as purchasing and strategic placement of rock for erosion protection purposes. These upgrades help to build resilient river communities by better protecting homes, businesses, farms, schools, and key transport routes including State Highway 1 and KiwiRail from future flood events.
Find out more on: River projects | Environment Canterbury