Project Start Year: 2025
The Awanui-Lower Whangatane Spillway project addresses a weak point in the Awanui flood scheme at Kumi Road, near Awanui township. The area has previously experienced overtopping, including in July 2020 when stopbanks overtopped and several houses were flooded and stock losses occurred.
The project sets back around two kilometres of stopbanks by up to 250 metres in places, creating extra room for floodwaters to pass through. This approach, often described as making room for the river, is recognised as best practice in flood risk reduction. Modelling indicates the works could reduce flood levels in the area by around half a metre, helping reduce the risk of floodwaters overtopping the stopbanks.
Benefits
The project improves the performance of the Awanui flood scheme and provide greater protection for the Awanui community, including two Marae. By reducing flood levels and addressing a known weak point, the works are intended to reduce the likelihood of floodwaters overtopping the stopbanks during significant flood events.
Government co-investment also substantially reduces the cost to Northland ratepayers, while supporting continued investment in flood risk reduction across the region.
Adaptation
The project supports a more adaptive approach to flood management by giving the river more space during high-flow events. Rather than relying only on existing stopbank alignments, the works respond to known flood behaviour and create additional capacity for floodwaters in a vulnerable part of the scheme.
Resilience
By reducing flood levels and improving a known weak point in the flood scheme, the project helps provide greater protection for the Awanui community. The works are part of a wider programme of flood-related investment across Northland, helping communities better withstand future flood events.
Collaboration
The project is being delivered through co-investment between central government - administered by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit - and Northland Regional Council. The Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) will contribute $1.5 million towards the $2.5 million project, with the remaining $1 million funded by council through existing rates.
The Awanui-Lower Whangatane Spillway project helps reduce flood risk in a known vulnerable location and improve the performance of the Awanui flood scheme.
Photo credit: Kaitaia Contractors Limited. Lower Whangatane Spillway during flood in the Far North in August 2022.
