Flood resilience ramps up - key projects underway to boost our defences
We're set to kick off a summer of action on flood resilience projects co-funded under the second round (Tranche 2) of the Government's Regional Infrastructure Funding (RIF), administered by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit.
RIF is a co-investment programme designed to help regions strengthen critical infrastructure and better prepare for natural hazards. Funding is delivered in a 60:40 split between government and our community (via regional council rates).
The importance of investing in flood protection
With more than 78,000 km of rivers and streams, Waitaha Canterbury is no stranger to severe flooding, highlighting the need for robust flood management infrastructure, like stopbanks, floodgates, and weirs.
Improving this infrastructure increases our flood resilience, meaning we can better protect homes, businesses, productive land and critical infrastructure like roads, railways, and medical centres.
As the regional council, we play a leading role in protecting our region from flooding. Our flood protection network spans around 2,000 km of waterways. We monitor and maintain 59 river and drainage schemes and within these schemes, we build and maintain $850 million of flood protection infrastructure (2023).
In Waitaha, the RIF Tranche 1 funding has already been a game-changer, allowing us to accelerate projects that can take decades to achieve under current local funding models. So, before we get started on Tranche 2 projects, let’s take a closer look at where we’re at with Tranche 1.
Tranche 1: Laying the groundwork
Announced in Budget 2024, Tranche 1 provided $9.5 million in project funding to accelerate three flood resilience projects that were originally scheduled for later years in the Long-Term Plan. These projects are being delivered now, and are tracking on time and on budget.
Rangitata flood and resilience works
Amount allocated: $3 million
Project overview: We’re continuing and expanding our successful programme of work on the Rangitata River. This project improves flood resilience across the catchment and includes investigations, construction, and enhancement work. We’ve completed flood protection planting at the railway breakout above SH1 and are monitoring the results regularly. Vegetation clearance to improve channel capacity is underway and the modelling and design for the new stopbank alignment is nearing completion.
Regional structure upgrades and adaptation programme
Amount allocated: $2.5 million
Project overview: Adaptation means making changes to existing critical but older infrastructure so it can cope with new conditions and stay fit for purpose — stopbanks and floodgates for example. Under Tranche 1 we're working on stopbank upgrades along the Ruataniwha Cam, Kaiapoi, Ōrari, and Lower Hinds rivers and floodgate upgrades on the Kaiapoi and Ruataniwha Cam rivers. In spring, we completed a stopbank upgrade on the Ruataniwha Cam River — see more about this work in the section below. At the Ōrari river the initial removal of trees and the survey for the stopbank upgrade has been completed. We are now finalising the design drawings to progress further work this summer. Over at the Kaiapoi river, we’ve finished tree removal at the stopbank along Raven Quay and are working on the detailed design for the upgrade.
Waitarakao/Washdyke/Seadown works
Amount allocated: $4 million
Project overview: This project helps prepare for climate change by retreating inland the existing drain and coastal stopbank between Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon and Beach Road in the Seadown Drain scheme. We’re continuing to engage with key stakeholders and rūnanga partners and are close to finishing the technical investigations that will guide the design for the relocation. The permissions to undertake the physical works are being confirmed and we will start the initial construction on the ground as soon as possible.
Upgrade completed on time and within budget
The stopbank upgrade on the Ruataniwha Cam River, near State Highway 1, has been successfully delivered on time and within budget.
Construction began in mid-April 2025 and was completed in November, including regrassing and the planting of native species to help stabilise the banks and enhance local biodiversity.
The upgrade strengthens the stopbank and restores its height to pre-earthquake levels, providing improved protection for nearby homes, farmland, and the critical infrastructure that keeps the community connected.
Ruataniwha Cam River stopbank before work
Ruataniwha Cam River stopbank during work
Tranche 2: Building on the momentum
In October, the Government announced a further $21.5 million of RIF co-funding (Tranche 2) to accelerate nine key projects in Waitaha.
Improving Canterbury’s flood and river resilience is one of the Council’s top priorities for the region, said Councillor Ian Mackenzie, the Council’s Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards core service lead.
“Investing in flood prevention is far cheaper and better than spending on flood recovery,” Councillor Mackenzie said.
“Partnering with central government to accelerate the delivery of these projects will significantly reduce the risk of flooding events in our region.”
Together, Tranches 1 and 2 represent a major step forward in safeguarding our communities. They also support local employment and economic resilience by involving local contractors and suppliers.
See the full list of major river projects and progress here.