Project Start Year: 2025
The Regional Structure Upgrades and Adaptation Programme #2 is aimed at upgrading stopbanks and flood protection infrastructure across Waitaha Canterbury including locations near Tinwald, Waikuku Beach, Rangitata, and Staveley. The works include surveying, geotechnical investigations, design and physical construction. This project builds on the work completed under the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) Tranche 1 co-investment, to adapt critical and aged flood protection infrastructure including stopbanks, culverts, drains, weirs, and flood gates.
Benefits
The project increases flood resilience for local communities and nationally and regionally significant assets valued at around $199 million - including 1391 hectares of land, SH1 and SH77 - and several residential areas including Tinwald, Rangitata, Halswell, Ashburton, Waikuku Beach and Staveley.
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 by central government’s Regional Investment Fund (RIF) and Environment Canterbury.
This project upgrades culverts, drains, flood gates, stopbanks and other critical flood protection assets across multiple sites in Waitaha Canterbury. These upgrades help to build resilient river communities by better protecting homes, farms, businesses, schools, hospitals, and key transport routes from future flood events.
Find out more on: River projects | Environment Canterbury