Environment Canterbury’s Waimakariri Flood Protection Project to improve flood protection for residents of Waimakariri, Selwyn, and Christchurch has the green light to proceed.
The 10 year project, worth an estimated $34 million, includes upgrading primary stopbanks, enhancing rock protection, and constructing a secondary stopbanking system to improve Waimakariri River flood capacity.
The decision to grant the required resource consents for the project was issued on July 7, 2009, and the appeal period is now complete.
Environment Canterbury hazards portfolio chair Cr Jane Demeter says significant mitigation measures proposed by Environment Canterbury, and the stringent consent conditions imposed by the consent commissioners, have gone a long way to alleviate the concerns of submitters.
In particular, she says, this includes the implementation of a floodwarning and evacuation plan for residents on the southern side of the river in the Halkett, McLeans Island, and Coutts Island areas. Currently no such system is in place.
Consent conditions limiting working hours, and for the control of noise, dust and vibration, will ensure that nearby properties will not be significantly affected by the stopbank construction.
Funding for the project was confirmed in Environment Canterbury’s Long Term Council Community Plan approved in June. Passing the appeal period for the resource consents now gives the green light for design and construction to start.
Over the first three years, work will be focused around “filling the gaps” in the existing secondary stopbank between State Highway 1 and the airport. This will include work in the area of the Groynes, Lakes Rua and Tahi, and the Darroch Street/Rushmore Drive area, as well as rock protection work around the road and rail bridges.
Work will be managed by Environment Canterbury’s river engineering team, and although construction will not begin immediately, preliminary survey and design activities can now go ahead. The preliminary work will include consultation with landowners where construction works will occur.
For more information: Environment Canterbury Design & Operations Engineer, Ian Heslop, 03 372 7201; Environment Canterbury Hazard Portfolio Chair Cr Jane Demeter, phone 03 365 2399.