West Coast bid for new flood protection funds

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

As pressure mounts on the Government's purse strings in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, the West Coast Regional Council is pushing the case for a further $23 million of flood protection.

However, the council's Infrastructure Governance Committee heard on Tuesday the North Island experience now strengthened the case for co-funding to protect communities from climate-driven events.

Chief executive Heather Mabin noted in a report, a national initiative had already been tabled with the Government for immediate and ongoing investment in flood protection in the regions.

In response to Cyclone Gabrielle, Te Uru Kahika which represents regional and unitary councils, sent a memorandum to Kanoa, the infrastructure division of MBIE setting out the case for co-investment.

It endorsed the regional councils' request for funding for the 2024 year, including on the West Coast.

This was for:
* $4m Cobden seawall, in 2024;
* $2m Hokitika River stopbanks, in 2024;
* $7m Wanganui River scheme, in 2024-25;
* $10m stage two of the Waiho (Waiau) River scheme, in 2024.

Infrastructure Governance Committee chairperson Frank Dooley said the council had been undertaking an "enormous" amount of activity already around infrastructure, including for a Westport scheme.

It had been struggling with capacity, as had been seen with the delay to fix the breach in the Wanganui River northern stopbank. As a result, farmland had flooded last week and there were "lessons to be learned".

"On the face of it we didn't act with the urgency that was required."

At the same time, the council was ready a month ahead of time with its own $10.2m flood protection scheme for Westport, outside what the Government may decide around co-funding the larger $56m proposal.

"That creates some momentum," he said.

Dooley paid tribute to chief executive Heather Mabin for her work on that, "on behalf of the people of Buller".

He also noted from the Te Uru Kahika reports, "that there is a requirement for co-funded adaptation to climate change".

Mabin said the reports showed the impetus for co-investment "has not gone away as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle".

It was also vital to demonstrate to the community the council was still working to reinforce the co-funding argument.

Dooley referred to the Canterbury earthquakes and the implementation of red zones, with future implications for the Coast.

"From the point of view of our communities, some are going to be faced with red zoning."

However, budget day in May would the important indicator for the West Coast.

"Once it's delivered and there is a platform for co-funding we can move a hell of a lot quicker," Dooley said.

Councillor Peter Haddock said the regional council was "ahead of the game" and well prepared in light of the natural events it had dealt with, and a lot of ground work done now for new protection investment.

"It's lucky this council has invested in that professional knowledge."

Dooley said if the council were to get co-funding for the four projects outlined in the report, "then we're going to be pretty busy" in the next few years.

Haddock also noted a call in recent times to "re-wild" rivers and to retreat communities, but he said that was not possible in some communities.

Westport was a good example and if retreat were the option then it would have to be an "intergenerational" shift given the capital values involved.

The Greymouth protection scheme 30 years ago was a good example of enabling community confidence, with new development now happening on the back of planned improvements to the existing floodwall scheme.

Dooley said a recent Sunday television programme on Westport adaptation had portrayed an "outdated and sad" view which was not realistic.

"It's a nonsense."