February flood erosion cost mounts

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

A "lot of potential work" is seen necessary to repair and improve stopbanks on the Wanganui River flats near Harihari.

The Wanganui River badly damaged rockwalls and eroded farmland during the February flood which also struck Westport.

Already a new protection wall less than 0.5-kilometres long has been built after a huge chunk of farmland on the true right bank of the Wanganui was washed away.

The West Coast Regional Council heard at its May meeting that some of the urgent work was approved by the end of April as an emergency procurement, by the previous director of operations Randal Beal.

The emergency procurement is allowed under council's delegations manual due to natural disasters.

A report to the meeting said verbal quotes were to be confirmed and "availability to start" was the selection criteria.

"Rock lining the wall is a capital cost ... of approximately $100,000 to the adjoining landowners.''

Council engineer James Bell had met with affected landowners from the Wanganui rating district who had confirmed the plan to proceed.

The work had been awarded to Arnold Contracting with onsite stockpiles of rock to be used.

Cr Debra Magner said she had visited the area with regional council staff.

There were two pieces of work to be done, one of which was already under way. The other work would be reliant on rating district approval.

"There's going to be quite a lot of potential work on the Wanganui," Magner said.

Chief executive Heather Mabin said the issue facing the Wanganui rating district linked to a broader issue of how to pay.

From the February flood alone, $326,000 had been spent on emergency works.

"We are very aware that there needs to be a national plan."