Project Start Year: 2025
Project Status: In Progress
The Ōreti Catchment Flood Protection Scheme Upgrade is focused on increasing flood resilience for Winton, Dipton West, and the surrounding productive farmland. Winton is a key service town on State Highway 6, providing essential healthcare, education, and emergency services to the broader rural community.
Climate change is expected to bring 10% more rainfall and a 13% increase in river flows for the Ōreti catchment by 2040-2050. These changes will put additional pressure on the flood infrastructure network. This project restores the scheme to its intended level of service by addressing deferred maintenance and improving the hydraulic efficiency of the flood channels.
The work includes strengthening key flood banks to improve resilience during major flood events. Removing pest trees, including crack willow, will help reduce erosion and improve water flow—particularly near critical infrastructure such as the bridges at Winton and Centre Bush.
Benefits
Reduces flood impacts on homes, businesses, productive farmland and critical services by restoring channel conveyance and sustaining agreed service levels across the flood-infrastructure network.
Stabilises river margins and manages vegetation (e.g. willow removal and targeted erosion repair) to support river function and reduce pressure on flood banks during high flows.
Builds local delivery capability in river engineering and project management, ensuring reliable, cost-effective delivery of future works.
Adaptation & Resilience
Prepares the Ōreti system for changing climate conditions by restoring the flood-infrastructure network to its agreed 1-in-20-year level of service and identifying where future upgrades may be required.
Improves long-term channel stability and flow management, reducing erosion risk and allowing flexibility for future adaptation measures such as nature-based options.
Supports intergenerational continuity in skills and knowledge, strengthening local expertise so that maintenance and adaptation can continue as conditions change over time.
Collaboration
Involves experienced local contractors and partners to deliver the work efficiently, with an accelerated timeline providing cost savings, reduced transport costs, and a lower carbon footprint for greater sustainability.
Co-funded by Environment Southland and central government through Kānoa’s Regional Infrastructure Fund.
This project reflects Environment Southland’s commitment to managing flood risk and climate impacts to support the wellbeing of Murihiku Southland’s communities, economy and environment.
Learn more about Environment Southland’s Ōreti floodplain project.
