Franz Josef: historic rubbish dump ‘dodged a bullet’

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

Waiho Flat dairy farms at Franz Josef "dodged a bullet" after flooding on Monday again threatened a historic rubbish dump.

The Waiho (Waiau) River floodwaters appeared to threaten the stopbank that protects the buried dump, just below Canavans Knob, but then turned away, Waiho Flat farmer of 50 years Richard Molloy said.

Nerves were jangled on Monday when the rapidly rising river looked to be on the verge of breaking through - as it almost did last year.

During a 70mm downpour in about 90 minutes, the raging river shifted course straight towards the bank.

"We were only a hair's breadth away from the same situation," Molloy said.

It was only averted by chance - "it's nothing to do with proactiveness".

West Coast Regional Council acting infrastructure manager Colin Munn said he was made aware of concerns last Friday and the council arranged for a local contractor to inspect the stopbank.

"He thought it was fine ... I guess it's a matter of judgment."

Engineering staff were again visiting the site today, Munn said.

Further north at Harihari, Wanganui River farmers mopping up from their second flood in a fortnight were again critical of the regional council's role in the delay in repairing the impaired stopbank.

Work to divert the river started last Thursday but heavy rain that night saw the river break out above the new diversion, and thwarted the short term repair.

"What our aim has been is to get some rock to the site to ensure we don't lose any more of that stopbank," Munn said.

Rock cartage began on Friday and restarted on Sunday, but contractors "got chased out" by the rising river levels.

"It's an interesting place to be in terms of the ability of schemes to withstand all these events repeatedly, and people's expectations that you can fix it overnight."

He said the council just needed some breathing space.

"The best thing for me is if someone turns the tap off."

Riverbeds constricted for a long time by flood protection banks were continuing to aggrade with gravel build-up, Munn said.

Discussions about the broader issues facing the Wanganui River scheme were ongoing, but the council had to balance the immediate risk for affected residents.

"The factors have changed around it and it's making it more challenging to manage the status quo, but at the moment we're just trying to make sure we get control of it."