Whakatāne-Tauranga Rivers Scheme
The Whakatāne-Tauranga Rivers Scheme covers the Tauranga River with a 440km2 catchment and the Whakatāne River with a 1100km2 catchment.
It stretches from Whakatāne town, Tāneatua and Waimana, down to Ruatāhuna and the Huiarau Ranges, and includes the Te Rahu, Waioho and Wairere tributaries.
It is one of five major River Schemes that were established in the 1970s by Regional Council (then known as the Catchment Commission) to effectively manage and maintain the flood defences along the awa, to help protect the lives and livelihoods of the community.
Geoff Stone, Whakatāne-Tauranga Rivers Scheme Area Engineer, tells us more:
This scheme includes:
Bay of Plenty Regional Council owns and manages an array of flood protection and drainage defences across the rohe (such as stopbanks, floodgates, floodwalls etc).
As well as developing new or improved flood defences, our team undertake regular work to test, check, repair and maintain these defences.
We do this to make sure they are in good condition, so that when a flood event occurs, the flood defences will help manage the impacts to the community.
All ratepayers across the region contribute to river and drain management. However, if you live within a scheme, you pay an additional targeted rate for the services that you directly benefit from (such as flood protection and drainage).
Find out more information about the River Scheme, Pump & Drainage Scheme targeted rates.
Latest rainfall and river levels
For current rainfall and river levels, visit the Environmental Data Portal.
Major projects underway
We’re currently doing some stopbank strengthening work along a section of the Whakatāne River Trail. This involves the removal of vegetation and structures which could impact the reliability of the stopbank.
We’re working at ways to protect the community from increased flood risk in the coming decades.
Your River Scheme Advisory Group
Flood protection is an ongoing conversation with the community, to help balance the social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts that flood protection presents.
To help achieve this, we established River Advisory Groups, which are made up of local people from along the river with different interest and involvements in the future of the awa. These locals are here to represent your needs and wants for the awa, which helps advise our teams when it comes to flood projects, maintenance and management.
Find out more the Whakatāne - Tauranga Rivers Scheme Advisory Group.
