Project Start Year: 2024
This project aims to enhance flood resilience across the Rangitata/Rakitata catchment. In flood events, this river has a serious impact on critical infrastructure, including state highways and rail lifelines. To achieve the vision of building community resilience, Environment Canterbury is taking an integrated approach and considering a broad range of values. Several options are being considered including stopbank construction, river works, and various enhancement works.
Benefits, Adaptation and Resilience
Improving flood resilience in this area means that several homes, businesses and critical infrastructure (roads, railways, power lines) are better protected from floods. Environment Canterbury is using lessons learnt from previous events, including the December 2019 flood, to create robust protection measures.
Collaboration
Environment Canterbury is working in collaboration with Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, district councils and infrastructure owners to align activity and minimise disruption to the community. This project is co-funded by MBIE-Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit. The Government funds up to 60 per cent of project costs and Environment Canterbury funds the rest.
