We are extremely pleased to be celebrating the completion of an important project to refurbish and make more resilient sections of the Motueka River stopbanks.
Over the last three years, work has been carried out on 10 sites across a five-kilometre section of the Motueka River, to enhance flood protection measures.
The stopbanks were initially constructed in the 1950s and 60s and have deteriorated since, increasing the risk of failure and inundation of approximately 1,400 hectares of surrounding land, including the northern extent of Motueka town.
Phase One was completed in late 2021, and included sites at the end of Whakarewa Street, Old Mill Road and Blue Gum Corner.
Phase Two began in March 2022 with work at River Road, Lyndhurst Drive, Parker Street and Douglas Road.
The third and final phase involved an extension of work at the end of Whakarewa Street, additional work at Hurley Bank and Brooklyn Stream, adjacent to the Plant and Food Research Centre, and Peach Island.
The back channel of the Motueka River at Peach Island was also cleared of debris deposited during Cyclone Gita.
Repairs involved adding compacted clay to the front and top of the existing stopbank. The aim is to resolve two types of issues:
- Raising the crest of the stopbank in areas where it is no longer high enough to provide protection from a 1-in-50-year flood event.
- Repairing the stopbank in areas where it might have weaknesses that could cause it to fail in a large flood event.
The refurbishment improves the integrity of the stopbanks and provides safer access for ongoing maintenance.
The total value of the project is $10 million, of which Central Government funded $7.5 million via the Covid Response and Recovery Fund.