269 days ago

Officials scramble to find solution for dangerous river at Franz Josef

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

Engineers are surveying the new channel cut by the Waiho (Waiau) River at Franz Josef Glacier, but there are no plans to try to re-train the river back to its normal course.

About 95% of the main flow of the river starting flowing north through the Tatare Stream after heavy rain on January 18 to 20.

The river began shifting towards the neighbouring Tatare in mid-2023, forcing the council to abandon plans for a series of bunds (embankments) along the lower Waiho, below the Franz Josef town sewerage ponds.

While there is now concern about the river being up against the northern bank in front of the sewerage ponds, the southern bank stopbanks on the usually vulnerable Waiho Flat side of the river, have been left high and dry.

West Coast Regional Council engineering staff are now surveying those stopbanks before carrying out interim maintenance, and is also awaiting the results of a new Lidar survey of the riverbed, which uses light to create 3-D images of a landscape, to understand the new direction of the river's main channel.

A South Westland resident claimed last week a large bulldozer was being moved towards Franz Josef, probably in an effort to change the course of the river.

Responding, council chief executive Daryl Lew said the council was simply "mobilising" its resources in the area as it weighed options to deal with the situation.

Chairperson Peter Haddock said the bulldozer seen last week was nothing to do with the regional council or any plans to divert the Waiho River.

Haddock said he was aware a private landowner at Waiho Flat had contracted a large bulldozer to undertake work to protect their land, but it had nothing to do with the council.

"To my knowledge the bulldozer is not being engaged by council," he said.

However, the council was getting organised for the medium term maintenance of the existing stopbanks on the south side "to hold the line" while the riverbed was dry.

It hoped to get the green light from Government funding agency Kanoa to use some of the reserved $8.77 million granted under the original co-funded $24m Waiho protection scheme for that work, he said.

The south bank repairs were ahead of the longer term plan to abandon the Waiho Flat to the river by pulling down the banks, starting in about 10 years' time.

Haddock said options for possibly diverting the river channel would need to go to the community first before any decisions were made.

"Unless there's a distinct emergency, that needs to go to the rating district first."

The risk to the sewerage ponds on the north bank remained a matter for the Westland District Council to assess, he said.

While Westland had now said it wanted to add protection below the sewerage ponds, that would only be an interim solution and would also need to go to the rating district, "if it's deemed the ponds are at risk".

"The rating district has to decide if it has an appetite."

Haddock said the regional council continued to monitor the Waiho flowing via the Tatare Stream and the gorge.

If it continued to escalate, then any protection solutions from below the end of the sewerage ponds were likely to be beyond the rating district and council's capacity and would require Government intervention, he said.

* LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ on Air

More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Poll: Is it rude to talk on the phone on a bus?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Buses can be a relaxing way to get home if you have a seat and enough space. However, it can be off-putting when someone is taking a phone call next to you.

Do you think it's inconsiderate for people to have lengthy phone calls on a bus? Vote in the poll, and add your comments below.

Image
Is it rude to talk on the phone on a bus?
  • 64% Yes
    64% Complete
  • 33.5% No
    33.5% Complete
  • 2.5% Other - I'll share below
    2.5% Complete
1575 votes
1 day ago

Unlock the Answer: Today’s Riddle is Trickier Than You Think!

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

What English word retains the same pronunciation, even after you take away four of its five letters?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

Image
10 hours ago

Become an SPCA Foster Hero!

The Team from SPCA Westport - Centre & Op Shop

Kitten season has arrived, and over the next six months, over 8,000 cats and kittens will come into SPCA’s care. Please help us give these babies the best start in life and sign up to be a foster parent today! It's not just cats and kittens - we are also urgently seeking foster homes for dogs and small animals.

Fostering saves lives and helps these tiny babies grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults, ready for adoption. We cover all training and costs. All you need is time and love to spare!

Sign up today and save a life!