We’re in the process of upgrading our river water monitoring network regionwide so it can withstand a one in 200-year flooding event.
News
Leading flood and river resilience
Last updated: 31 August 2023
Reporting frequency: Quarterly
Portfolio: Climate change and community resilience
We are reducing river flood risk to people and property through building and maintaining high quality flood protection, land drainage and erosion control infrastructure, while managing associated land.
Between 2021 and 2023 more than $24 million will be spent in Waitaha Canterbury on a programme of flood protection projects thanks to central government’s climate resilience fund and local funding. These projects are part of the Resilient River Communities programme which will see 55 projects completed nationwide by 2023 with a total of $312 million spent.
Another significant focus for this programme is flood recovery from the May 2021 flooding event, which was an unprecedented weather event with both long and intense periods of rainfall. The effects were felt from the Waimakariri District through to the Mackenzie. In the Ashburton River/Hakatere catchment area the weather event was of a magnitude greater than everywhere else in the region.
This work also includes:
- Management of flood protection and drainage infrastructure assets across 59 schemes within the Canterbury region.
- Providing flood alerts and flood management.
- River and coastal surveying
- Ensuring appropriate authorisations and permissions are granted for activities impacting Canterbury’s rivers and our assets.
- Fluvial gravel management
- Management of forestry and land owned by us.
How are we tracking on our Levels of Service?
Level of Service 26: Maintain flood protection and drainage infrastructure to agreed standards while considering broader outcomes.
As part of this level of service we will:
- 26.1 Manage flood protection and drainage infrastructure in accordance with Asset Management Plans and desired broader community outcomes.
- a) Initiate the development of a regional river strategy to identify opportunities to manage rivers for a range of values.
- b) Publish an annual report on scheme condition, for all schemes in accordance with relevant Asset Management.
- c) Initiate a review of the River Rating District Committees’ structure and membership.
How did we do: The scope of a regional river strategy is complete, and feedback has been translated into objectives focused on climate change adaptation and implementation of Te Mana o te Wai. This work is being woven into broader engagement plans to test objectives and actions with Council, ngā Papatipu Rūnanga and the community.
View the scheme condition annual report.
The review of the River Rating District Committees was completed and new terms of reference have been drafted ready for adoption.
Achieved
Level of Service 26: Maintain flood protection and drainage infrastructure to agreed standards, while considering broader outcomes.
As part of this level of service we will:
- 26.2 Complete scheme reviews in accordance with the 30-Year Infrastructure Strategy
How did we do: The delays arising out of the May 2021 flood event are still impacting how the work against the 30 Year Infrastructure Strategy is progressing. While not all reviews have been initiated as planned, significant work has been undertaken on scheme reviews this year.
Not achieved
Level of Service 26: Maintain flood protection and drainage infrastructure to agreed standards while considering broader outcomes.
As part of this level of service we will:
- 26.3 Complete a review of the gravel management strategy
How did we do: The comprehensive engagement process with partners and stakeholders to ensure the review produces a durable, fit-for-purpose approach is taking longer than anticipated. Staff are working in partnership with ngā Papatipu Rūnanga and met to progress this in May 23. A commitment has been made to continue this work.
Not achieve
Level of Service 27: Provide flood alerts and warning when trigger levels are exceeded.
As part of this level of service we will:
- 27.1 Respond to exceedance of trigger levels.
How did we do: Current alerts are prominently displayed on our website.
Achieved
How are we doing on our key initiatives?
Develop a Land & Property Strategy
How are we doing: Priorities and Principles of the 50-Year Land Strategy were discussed with Council in April 2023 with feedback incorporated into the draft strategy.
On track
2021 flood recovery programme
How are we doing: This project is behind schedule as staff deployments to Hawkes Bay earlier in the year resulted in some work being delayed. The focus for winter 2023 is reinstatement of significant areas of flood protection vegetation.
At risk
Climate Resilience programme COVID-19 recovery fund
How are we doing: This work programme encompasses eight projects, two of which are complete. The remainder are progressing well with some challenges to the project schedule. Good progress has been made to the end of June 2023, with four projects nearing completion.
On track
Recent highlights and updates
News
Climate change continues to increase the risk of flooding. Leigh Griffiths shares her thoughts about the future of flood protection in Waitaha.
News
Chair Peter Scott shares his disappointment over the Government's decision to not fund a flood prevention plan.
News
We have four flood protection projects along the Waihī River in Geraldine, including targeted weeding, native planting, and a memorial site.
News
Our Flood Protection Recovery Manager Shaun McCracken says we need to rethink our relationship with rivers.
News
The combination of dry conditions, thin, poor-quality soil and a highly modified river is making for an extra challenging native revegetation programme on the c