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$14 million eastern Bay of Plenty flood repair works completed

Environment Bay of Plenty river and drainage staff will celebrate a special milestone in the eastern Bay of Plenty this week.

They will complete the repair of the river and drainage schemes that were damaged in the 2004 floods. The repair works had an overall cost of $14 million and also included the emergency pumping and response operations affected immediately after the flood. The disaster caused widespread damage to the region’s flood protection systems and river banks; in particular to the Rangitaiki Plains, Edgecumbe and parts of Whakatane.

Environment Bay of Plenty Rivers and Drainage Manager, Bruce Crabbe, says more than 250 separate flood damage sites across five rivers in the region were repaired.

“This has been a huge project for Environment Bay of Plenty staff and eastern Bay of Plenty contractors.

“The regional council has already received $6.2 million from Government toward the overall cost of the flood response and repair works and is now awaiting approval for an extra $1.2 million.”

The remainder of the costs will be met by the affected river and drainage scheme ratepayers and Environment Bay of Plenty, Mr Crabbe says.

Now that the work resulting from the 2004 floods has been completed, Environment Bay of Plenty is looking at proactive measures to improve flood protection in the future.

“Rangitaiki Plains’ soils are highly variable and contain many permeable layers that can lead to seepage during flooding. In extreme cases stop-bank foundations can fail, which is what occurred near Edgecumbe in 2004.”

To improve future flood protection, staff have investigated the soil composition of stop-bank foundations. They also consulted with the public and used soil stability experts to identify sites where stop-banks needed strengthening.

“Proactive protection works have started at Edgecumbe and will continue for the next year.
This will involve staff installing gravel-filled drainage trenches around stop-banks to control seepage.”

Some residents at Edgecumbe and the lower Rangitaiki River area may be affected by seepage trench works. However, Environment Bay of Plenty staff will be consulting with landowners before carrying out any of these works.

Mr Crabbe says involving the public in flood prevention is very important.

“People can help us by letting us know if there is any work is being done in or around stop-banks that could weaken them, or if they see water seeping during flooding,” says Mr Crabbe.

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