Work begins on major flood resilience upgrade at Walkhams Road
When floodwaters broke through stopbanks on both sides of the Ashburton/Hakatere River at Walkhams Road during the May 2021 floods, it highlighted the need for a long-term solution.
And now, work is about to start on a major project designed to reduce the risk of future flood damage. This is funded through local rates and Central Government co-funding.
Addressing one of the river's highest risk sections
The Walkhams Road reach is one of the narrowest and highest-risk sections of the river. The planned flood protection work involves widening and realigning stopbanks around Walkhams Road, creating more room for floodwaters and helping reduce flood risk to surrounding farms, infrastructure and communities.
Supporting long-term river management
The design also creates space for long-term gravel extraction in an area where gravel naturally accumulates. It’s a location well suited to ongoing gravel management because it acts as a natural gravel trap as the river gradient eases below Thompsons Track.
Canterbury Regional Council's (Environment Canterbury) Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards Committee Chair Cr Ian Mackenzie said the work was a significant step towards reducing flood risk in one of the river's most challenging locations.
"This project is about learning from the 2021 floods and investing, with the help of Central Government, in a long-term solution for the community."
"It combines major flood protection upgrades with ongoing river management. Together, these works will help improve the river's ability to safely carry flood flows and reduce flood risk for nearby communities."
The project will also include planting along the berm using sterile willow species integrated with native vegetation, helping to reduce weed growth and lower long-term maintenance costs.
Demonstrating the new stopbank (orange line) versus the current stopbank (blue line)
Investing in community resilience
Cr Mackenzie said the investment would provide benefits beyond the immediate project area.
"Flood resilience is about planning ahead and making smart investments that help communities recover faster and reduce future risks. This project is a significant step forward for the Ashburton/Hakatere River scheme and the people who rely on it."
Cr Mackenzie said recent flood events across the country highlight the importance of ensuring communities and councils have the tools they need to manage flood risk effectively.
"We welcome the Government's intent to review the rules around gravel extraction," Cr Mackenzie said.
"It's a positive step, but we'd also like to see the discussion broaden to include the wider range of flood resilience activities communities rely on. Good policy backed by good science should help us reduce flood risk, protect the environment and support resilient communities at the same time."
Construction timeline and funding support
Gravel extraction and stockpiling is underway, with construction of the new stopbanks expected to begin later this year and continue through to early 2028. The wider project will then transition to a staged programme of planting and stopbank removal, with final completion expected in 2035
The project is being delivered by Environment Canterbury with support from the Government's Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF), administered by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit.