Safeguarding our stopbanks

Welcome to another issue of the Safeguarding our Stopbanks (SOS) newsletter. We’re incredibly pleased with how Stage 3 is tracking and (weather permitting) are confident we will finish the majority of the works by the end of April.

We’re now well over halfway through the overall project, so we thought it would be appropriate to look back on what we’ve achieved over the past two-and-a-half years (more on this on page 3). We couldn’t do this without your understanding and patience, so thank you for being accommodating of the works and for your part in helping keep the community safe.

As always, our team are contactable if you have any questions or concerns about the project. Please contact us on riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz

Stage 3

It’s business as usual for Stage 3 as the good weather allows us to continue making great progress. Earthworks are now 70% complete, some of the fencing work has been completed or is underway (about eight properties), and the ground has been hydroseeded in areas (but the lack of rain has meant slow grass growth).

Just a reminder that this area is an active work site; please be mindful of this and avoid the area at all times for the safety of you and the contractors.

While works are happening, you may experience or notice disruptions to your daily life. This includes noise, dust, vibrations, possible odours from dirt being displaced, the presence of debris or rubbish on the site, and the movement of trucks and other construction equipment.

Please be assured that all disruptions, while inconvenient, are normal for the construction process. If possible, we try to alleviate the impacts of the project and when works are complete, the stopbank will be tidy with full grass cover.

We appreciate your patience as we and the contractors work to complete this project as efficiently as possible to ensure compliance and safety.

If you are experiencing disruptions over and above reasonable expectations, please contact us on riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz or 0800 884 880.

New fencing for SOS residents: How does it work?

For landowners in the SOS project area, Regional Council is covering the cost of a conventional wire mesh (top right), timber railed or timber paling fence type (bottom right), to a maximum of 1.8m high (we will also include a pedestrian access gate to the stopbank if requested). Where an owner chooses to construct a fence of a different material or style, we will ONLY contribute the cost of a conventional wire mesh or timber paling fence to a maximum of 1.8m high.

We will NOT contribute to additional components owner’s want included as part of the fence construction – such as shaped posts, end caps or trellis work, painting, mowing strips etc. In practice, this means we use a quoted cost for the standard fencing as the basis for any contribution to alternative style fencing.

If you don’t want a fence, or can’t decide on a fence now, no problem – you have until April 2025 to decide. After this time the Fencing Act applies where costs will be split 50:50 between the landowner and Regional Council.

Note, any private fence construction requires a Bylaw Authority (which we arrange as part of the SOS project). Once the project is completed, it is the responsibility of the landowner to comply with the conditions of the Bylaw Authority (and obtain any further Bylaw Authorities where needed).

SOS snapshot:

Happy new year and welcome to 2024. We hope you’re having a great summer so far and enjoyed what the festive season had to offer.

It’s been a busy year already as works on Stage 3 began w/c 8 January and, thanks to good weather days, have been making good progress – read more about this below.

Our engineering team will soon be starting works in the CBD with Project Future Proof. This is a large-scale project to replace and upgrade the stopbanks and floodwalls in town to meet the needs of a changing climate.

Throughout SOS project, our team are always contactable. If you have any feedback, queries or concerns, please contact us on riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz

The Safeguarding our Stopbanks project team

PROJECT UPDATE

Stage 3

Good weather and ground conditions have aided contractors to make steady progress on the stopbank works in the first section of Stage 3 (some fencing work next to the completed sections has also begun). This section (adjacent to 75 - 91 Riverside Drive) is expected to be complete by early February. The second section of stopbank (adjacent to 93 - 113 Riverside Drive) will follow.

These works include removing all tree stumps, tree roots, inground structures and stopbank repairs, and are on track for completion by the end of April (if weather and ground conditions remain stable). Some tidy up, reseeding and fencing work may carry through to May.

A reminder that this area is an active work site; please be mindful of this and avoid the area at all times for the safety of both you and the contractors. We acknowledge residents may experience some disruption while construction is happening (weekdays from 7.30am to 6.30pm), including noise and possible dust (dust mitigations will be in place).

We have also been notified that several wasp nests have been uncovered during the works. Please contact us if you have any concerns about nests near your property.

We thank you for your patience and understanding.

Thefts in the area

Before works paused for the festive season, our contractor notified us that some fuel and gear were stolen. This occurred at night with the offenders cutting the chain on a gate to gain access and specifically targeting contractor equipment.

While every precaution is taken by our team and the contractors to make sure the site is left in a way that deters criminal activity (for example, loose tools and valuable items are removed from the area) it is not viable for machinery to be moved off site each day. The contractor has put steps in place to reduce the likelihood of future thefts.

Thefts like this are extremely unfortunate for the community and contractors. If you hear or see anything of concern in the area, please contact Whakatāne Police as they are aware of the recent thefts and are monitoring the situation.

Next Reference Group Meeting

The SOS Community Reference Group provides a platform for residents to connect with Council’s project team, have input on how we communicate to residents in the project area, and provide feedback on the process or project to us directly.

Our next meeting is being held at the end of February. If you’d like to learn about the reference group or get involved please contact Kirsty Brown, Rivers and Drainage Asset Manager, via email on riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz

WHAT’S ON NEAR YOU?

Works notice: Surveying around Awatapu Outlet

We have contractors doing surveying work and ground investigations around the Awatapu Outlet in the coming months. This survey work is not related to SOS, but it is part of our ongoing work to improve flood protection around the rohe. This survey will help inform our review of the stopbanks on the southern side of Whakatāne.

Draft management plan for the river berms

While the SOS project focuses on the flood defences, it has also presented an opportunity to think about environmental enhancement improvements in the adjacent Whakatāne river berm, to make this a thriving habitat and a more user-friendly space.

We have already undertaken work like this in past years, for example when we created the Ferry Road inanga ponds, we not only created a new inanga spawning site, but we also used some of the soil removed from the site to top-up the nearby stopbanks as part of SOS.

We’re now looking at what other improvements could be made to the area – including adjusting the steepness of riverbanks to allow spawning sites and habitat for native fish; enhancing persistent wet areas and introducing native vegetation planting.

This draft management plan is in its infancy, and while this is an early ‘head’s up’, we’re planning to have further discussions with residents about what the area could look like.

If you’re interested to know more, keep an eye out for future communications on this, including a future on-site opportunity for you to provide feedback.

OTHER COUNCIL NEWS

Project Future Proof: Works to start in February

This summer, Regional Council is starting a multi-stage, multi-year project to upgrade the stopbanks and floodwalls in the Whakatāne CBD. This is called Project Future Proof. We’ll be starting along the Warren Cole Walkway between the skate park and the iSite, and working our way downstream over the coming years.

While we’re improving the flood defences, we will also improve pedestrian and accessibility access onto the Warren Cole Walkway from the shopping area across the road, as well as vehicle access into the Yacht Club car park.

During construction, parts of the walkway will require detours and Kakahoroa Drive will be reduced to a single lane around the work site. This will be signposted.

Flooding is the most common natural hazard in Aotearoa, and one of our core roles is to help minimise the risk this poses to people, property and livelihoods. You can keep updated about the project via our website: www.boprc.govt.nz/future-proof

Reminder: Help keep bikes and quads off stopbanks

Whakatāne District Council bylaws prohibit the riding of motorbikes and quad bikes on park and reserve areas, as they can cause damage and be dangerous to other users.

Whakatāne District Council and Whakatāne Police are aware of an increase in activity around Riverside Drive and across the river. To help reduce this behaviour, your assistance is required. If you see vehicles in the area, please immediately report and provide details to Whakatāne District Council on 07 306 0500 or via email info@whakatane.govt.nz

If you suspect that the vehicles are being dangerous, and pose a risk to people or property, please call Whakatāne Police by dialling 105.

Cut and carry: Contractor notifications

Previously, our cut and carry contractors have been putting notices in residents’ letterboxes to let them know when the work is due to happen. However, this hasn’t always worked well as the contractor’s schedule can change (largely due to wet weather).

To ensure communications are more timely and efficient, we have moved to an email and text notification system for those neighbours who would like notification of pending cut and carry operations. The email and text notifications replace the letter drop notices.

Residents who would like to receive the notification, please email riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz, and give us your email address and cellphone number.

Welcome to our final issue of the SOS newsletter for 2023. While the weather has been challenging at times throughout the year, we’re pleased with what has been accomplished and hope for a smooth, efficient year ahead as we work to complete Stage Three.

Thank you for your continued patience throughout this project. We wish you all a safe summer and a happy new year. Our next issue of SOS will be in your mailboxes at the end of January.

Office hours

Regional Council offices are closing for the holidays at 5pm on Friday 22 December and will re-open on Monday 8 January 2023 at 8.30am.

During this time, you can still call our 24/7 Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883, or contact our duty Harbourmaster on 0800 5 KNOTS (0800 55 66 87).

What’s new?

Stage 2:

The remediations for Stage 2 are now fully complete. The stopbank grass cover in the rowing club area (where we have taken out the tree stumps and fixed up the stopbank) is now well established. Other minor tidy up work around the concrete floodwall is also complete.

Stage 3:

Contractors have set up the site ready for the earthworks portion of the project to begin. This includes putting access ramps in, removing vegetation and loose landscape items and setting up temporary fences for safety.

We are in the process of appointing the contractor for the earthworks and this will begin before Christmas. This work includes removing all tree stumps, tree roots and inground structures, and repairing the stopbank. The amount of fill and the process required to repair each section of the stopbank depends on how many structures or trees were in that area. Consequently, how long they spend in a particular spot will vary.

All residents in Stage 3 will experience disruption of some kind while construction is happening (weekdays from 7.30am to 6.30pm). This includes noise and possible dust (although dust mitigations will be in place).

This area is now an active worksite, so please be mindful of this – your safety is of the utmost importance. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to complete this stage by April 2024.

Reminder: Please don’t dump rubbish!

Contractors working around the SOS project site have alerted us to rubbish being dumped on the stopbank.

Please do not dump any kind of rubbish (including green waste) on the stopbanks. It will not be removed and may be returned to you.

Summer of DIY? Check if you need a Bylaw Authority.

This summer, we are reminding landowners who have properties on or near Regional Council flood protection and drainage assets, such as stopbanks, floodwalls, drains or pump stations, that they may live in a Bylaw Applicable area and need a Bylaw Authority before digging, planting or building on their land.

A Bylaw Authority is written permission that outlines conditions to ensure our flood protection and drainage assets aren’t accidentally damaged or compromised.

Keeping our flood defence infrastructure in good condition is critical to helping keep the community safe. A tree or post near a stopbank, or a structure in a drain can compromise the functionality of these flood defences and put them at risk of failure when needed most.

By going through the Bylaw Authority process, our team can work with you to assess the types of works you want to do and what potential impacts this might have.

So, if you are planning any DIY this summer, check if you need a Bylaw Authority using our interactive map: boprc.govt.nz/flood-protection-bylaws

A pretty flower – but a real problem

‘Tis the season for pest plants… in particular, yellow flag iris. This exotic species is semi-aquatic and can be found along streams, rivers, drains, swampy ground, ponds, lakes and sometimes in gardens.

Where this plant grows in large numbers it can trap silt and encourage flooding (especially when growing in flowing water) and alter water levels. The roots also form mats, which can displace native plants and animals, especially vulnerable species that live on water margins.

Yellow flag iris was recently found near James Street School and could be in other areas around the SOS project. It’s currently in flower so if you see it, give us a call to get rid of it: 0800 884 880.

You can find out more about this and other pest plants in our online pest portal: boprc.govt.nz/environment/pests

What is Project Future Proof?

Project Future Proof is a multi-stage project led by Regional Council to upgrade the stopbanks and floodwalls along the CBD stretches of the Whakatāne River / Ōhinemataroa.

This needs to be done so the flood defences can handle the weather events we’re experiencing now, while allowing for the future impacts of climate change that are predicted to come.

Stage One (McAlister Street pump station to the iSite) of this multi-stage project is due to begin soon and will continue through to mid-2024.

We’re holding drop-in sessions for you to talk to the project team, ask your questions and see what we’re doing to help protect the community from flooding.

Good weather days means good news for the project team and our contractors.

This issue provides more detail on the Stage 2 finishing works and the Stage 3 investigations, both of which are happening now.

We also have an important reminder about when to apply for a Bylaw Authority for those who have had the SOS work completed (Stage One and Two), and to let us know how you’d like to receive cut and carry notifications.

A quick recap on why this work is happening

Stopbanks are only as strong as their weakest link and are vulnerable to damage.

Over the years non-approved structures, trees and gardens have been established on public land. This can create weakness in the stopbank, which can cause water to flow through and lead to the stopbank failing.

This work involves removing some of the vegetation and structures to enable the repair and strengthening of the stopbank.

Stage Two: What’s happening?

To recap, Stage 2 is 95% complete with finishing work being done now in conjunction with Stage 3 works. There are two parts: Removal of the tree stumps next to the Rowing Club, and tidying and maintenance around the concrete floodwall along Henderson Street.

Earlier this month, the stumps were removed. This involved tracing their roots back to the size of a thumb, extracting them from the area, and then rebuilding the stopbank. This image shows the work in progress, where the stumps have been removed and the compacting work to repair the stopbank has begun. The work has been completed since these photos were taken.

The floodwall tidy up will be complete in the next few weeks.

Stage Three: Geotechnical work – Why are we doing this?

Unlike the previous stages, we have limited geotechnical data on file for us to access. This is why we are doing thorough testing in the area. This testing includes hand augers at every second property, and boreholes and Core Penetration Tests (CPT) around the start and end of the Stage 3 section.

A CPT is used to determine the properties of soils. This is done by pushing a steel cone (about 32mm wide) into the ground, and generally up to 20m below the surface (or until the cone reaches a hard layer). The steel cone contains an electronic measuring system that records tip resistance and sleeve friction. As the cone goes into the ground, measurements are constantly sent back to the rig and recorded on a computer. Once complete, the holes are refilled.

This data helps inform the design of our work programme for Stage 3.

After Labour Weekend, you can expect to see some activity on and around the Riverside Drive stopbank as the contractor starts on access and preparatory works for Stage 3 of the SOS project.

Fencing policy for SOS

At our September SOS Community Reference Group meeting, there was discussion around fencing as part of the SOS project and who is covering the costs.

Here’s a summary:

• We have a Rivers and Drainage Fencing Policy, which was updated in 2022. This policy covers all rivers and drainage schemes.
• We have used this policy as a guide, but adapted it to be fit-for-purpose for rear boundaries in the SOS project area.
• As such, for landowners in the SOS project area, Regional Council is covering the cost of a conventional wire mesh, timber railed or timber paling fence type (e.g. pictured), to a maximum of 1.8m high (we will also include a pedestrian access gate to the stopbank if requested).
• Where an owner chooses to construct a fence of a different material or style, we will ONLY contribute the cost of a conventional wire mesh or timber paling fence to a maximum of 1.8m high.
• We will NOT contribute to any additional feature components that the owner wants included as part of the fence construction – such as shaped posts, end caps or trellis work, painting, mowing strips etc.
• In practice, this means we use a quoted cost for the standard fencing as the basis for any contribution to alternative style fencing. Note, any private fence construction requires a Bylaw Authority (which the landowner will need to arrange).

Cut and carry: Contractor notifications

Previously, our cut and carry contractors have been putting notices in residents’ letterboxes to let them know when the work is due to happen. However, this hasn’t always worked well as the contractor’s schedule can change (largely due to wet weather).

To ensure communications are more timely and efficient, we will be moving to an email and text notification system for those neighbours who would like notification of pending cut and carry operations. The email and text notifications will replace the letter drop notices.

Residents who would like to receive the notification, please email riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz, and give us your email address and cellphone number.

DIY’ing? Remember, you might need a Bylaw Authority

Thinking of getting stuck into a bit of DIY this summer? Before you dig, plant or build on your property, check if you need a Bylaw Authority for your activity.

What is a Bylaw Authority? A Bylaw Authority may be required if your property is near a Regional Council flood defence (such as stopbanks, floodwalls, drains and pump stations). It is written permission from us to carry out your planned works, with conditions in place to make sure that what you’re wanting to do doesn’t affect the condition of these flood defences.

It’s not to stop you doing work – just making sure that whatever work you do doesn’t accidentally affect the integrity of our flood protection and drainage infrastructure (which is critical to helping keep the community safe in floods).

Some activities that may need a Bylaw Authority include:

• Planting and/or removing trees and shrubs
• Building and/or removing fences and garden sheds
• Building and/or extending a house, shed or deck
• Constructing or removing retaining walls
• Landscaping earthworks
• Installing, upgrading or removing an in-ground swimming pool

If you live in the SOS project area (i.e. your property borders the base of the stopbank), you are in a Bylaw Applicable Area and, therefore, most works will need a Bylaw Authority.

Our team are here to help you through the process.

Contact our team on riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz

Welcome to spring and the official start of our construction season. This means the return of our regular SOS newsletter and, as we prepare to start Stage 3, we’re returning to our six-weekly distribution.

This issue outlines some of the work that’s due to begin and minor ‘finishing’ work that needs to be done to complete Stage 2. We’ve also included a reminder on bylaw property maps and the next Community Reference Group meeting.

If you’d like to have a chat about the project or have any questions about this update, you are welcome to contact us by email at riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz or phone 0800 884 880.

Read the latest issue.

Winter marks the traditional end of the construction season, so our teams are now making finishing touches to Stage 2, which primarily involves hydroseeding repaired areas of the stopbank and completing fencing work. The ongoing wet weather has made this work challenging so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for a decent run of sunshine to get things tidied up.

Over the next few months, the team will focus on gearing up for Stage 3. Physical works are planned to kick off in October. While the Stage 3 planning and preparation work is being done, we’ll reduce the frequency of these newsletters, with the next one planned for August. We’ll get back to our regular six-weekly distribution in September.

Keen to join your community reference group?

A community reference group, which includes residents impacted by the Safeguarding our Stopbanks work, was established late last year. The reference group provides a forum for sharing information, input on Council communications to residents, and feedback to the project team on what’s working well and opportunities for improvement. If you’d like to learn about the reference group or get involved, please contact Kirsty Brown, Rivers and Drainage Asset Manager via email riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz

Please don’t dump rubbish and greenwaste on or near stopbanks

Illegally dumped greenwaste is expensive to remove and can cause damage to the gear our contracting teams use to maintain stopbanks – tree branches, flax leaves and mowers don’t mix.  Thanks!

Geotechnical inspections testing on public land

Over the next month or two you may notice some testing activity on the stopbank and berm area adjacent to the Riverside Drive stopbank. This work is part of preparation for Stage 3 of the project. The testing involves a hand auger that bores a small hole to sampling depths (the holes are filled once the sampling is complete). The analysis of the sampling information helps the team make decisions on what specific engineering work is required to remediate areas of the stopbank. You can expect to see a number of geotechnical specialists and engineers in the area from July onwards.

Sign up to your River Scheme

The schemes are areas of land where we maintain and upgrade flood defences, manage riverbank erosion risks and do drain maintenance. The Safeguarding our Stopbanks project is just one piece of work that we’re doing in the Whakatāne-Tauranga Rivers Scheme. To find out more on what’s happening across the scheme you can keep up to date via our website by subscribing to boprc.govt.nz/whakatane-tauranga-rivers-scheme Another way to see how this project relates to Council’s other work maintaining $442m worth of flood defences (floodgates, floodway and spillways) and the bylaws in place to protect them is to check out boprc.govt.nz/flood-defences

About your river scheme - Whakatāne-Tauranga

The Whakatāne-Tauranga Rivers Scheme covers the Tauranga River (previously known as the Waimana River), which has a 440km2 catchment and the Whakatāne River with a 1100km2 catchment. It stretches from Whakatāne town, Tāneatua and Waimana, south to Ruatāhuna and the Huiarau Ranges, and includes the Te Rahu, Waioho and Wairere tributaries. It is one of five major River and Drainage Schemes that were established in the 1970s by Regional Council (then known as the Catchment Commission) to effectively manage and maintain flood defences.

Why does the Matahina Dam ‘spill’ in heavy weather?

While relating to the Rangitāiki-Tarawera Rivers Scheme, our team is often asked “why does the Matahina Dam spill when it pours?” Here’s a quick rundown on the what, why, and how this happens.

In anticipation of, or during, heavy rain in the Rangitāiki River catchment, we will instruct Manawa Energy to ‘spill’ from Matahina Dam. This means they are required to release a controlled amount of water to lower the dam level in readiness of increasing river flows into the dam.

We do this to reduce the risk on communities below the dam by using the storage created in the dam to reduce peak river flows. This ensures downstream river levels are reduced from what they could be if this was not undertaken. In turn, this takes pressure off the flood defences and ensures everything is working together to help protect the community. During this time, water levels in the Rangitāiki River will remain higher than normal for a few days but will reduce slowly as the inflow into the dam reduces.

The river levels are closely monitored by our Duty Flood Manager during a heavy rain event until spilling is no longer required from the dam.

It’s a no go for trail and quad bikes on parks and reserves

Whakatāne District Council bylaws prohibit the riding of motorbikes and quad bikes on park and reserve areas. These vehicles can cause serious damage and are potentially dangerous to other users. If you see trail or quad bikes on or accessing the River Trail or riverside reserve, we encourage you to please contact Whakatāne District Council on 07 306 0500. Photographs are very helpful for enforcement purposes.

Winter marks the traditional end of the construction season, so our teams are now making finishing touches to Stage 2, which primarily involves hydroseeding repaired areas of the stopbank and completing fencing work. The ongoing wet weather has made this work challenging so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for a decent run of sunshine to get things tidied up.

Over the next few months, the team will focus on gearing up for Stage 3. Physical works are planned to kick off in October. While the Stage 3 planning and preparation work is being done, we’ll reduce the frequency of these newsletters, with the next one planned for August. We’ll get back to our regular six-weekly distribution in September.

Keen to join your community reference group?

A community reference group, which includes residents impacted by the Safeguarding our Stopbanks work, was established late last year. The reference group provides a forum for sharing information, input on Council communications to residents, and feedback to the project team on what’s working well and opportunities for improvement. If you’d like to learn about the reference group or get involved, please contact Kirsty Brown, Rivers and Drainage Asset Manager via email riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz

Please don’t dump rubbish and greenwaste on or near stopbanks

Illegally dumped greenwaste is expensive to remove and can cause damage to the gear our contracting teams use to maintain stopbanks – tree branches, flax leaves and mowers don’t mix.  Thanks!

Geotechnical inspections testing on public land

Over the next month or two you may notice some testing activity on the stopbank and berm area adjacent to the Riverside Drive stopbank. This work is part of preparation for Stage 3 of the project. The testing involves a hand auger that bores a small hole to sampling depths (the holes are filled once the sampling is complete). The analysis of the sampling information helps the team make decisions on what specific engineering work is required to remediate areas of the stopbank. You can expect to see a number of geotechnical specialists and engineers in the area from July onwards.

Sign up to your River Scheme

The schemes are areas of land where we maintain and upgrade flood defences, manage riverbank erosion risks and do drain maintenance. The Safeguarding our Stopbanks project is just one piece of work that we’re doing in the Whakatāne-Tauranga Rivers Scheme. To find out more on what’s happening across the scheme you can keep up to date via our website by subscribing to boprc.govt.nz/whakatane-tauranga-rivers-scheme Another way to see how this project relates to Council’s other work maintaining $442m worth of flood defences (floodgates, floodway and spillways) and the bylaws in place to protect them is to check out boprc.govt.nz/flood-defences

About your river scheme - Whakatāne-Tauranga

The Whakatāne-Tauranga Rivers Scheme covers the Tauranga River (previously known as the Waimana River), which has a 440km2 catchment and the Whakatāne River with a 1100km2 catchment. It stretches from Whakatāne town, Tāneatua and Waimana, south to Ruatāhuna and the Huiarau Ranges, and includes the Te Rahu, Waioho and Wairere tributaries. It is one of five major River and Drainage Schemes that were established in the 1970s by Regional Council (then known as the Catchment Commission) to effectively manage and maintain flood defences.

Why does the Matahina Dam ‘spill’ in heavy weather?

While relating to the Rangitāiki-Tarawera Rivers Scheme, our team is often asked “why does the Matahina Dam spill when it pours?” Here’s a quick rundown on the what, why, and how this happens.

In anticipation of, or during, heavy rain in the Rangitāiki River catchment, we will instruct Manawa Energy to ‘spill’ from Matahina Dam. This means they are required to release a controlled amount of water to lower the dam level in readiness of increasing river flows into the dam.

We do this to reduce the risk on communities below the dam by using the storage created in the dam to reduce peak river flows. This ensures downstream river levels are reduced from what they could be if this was not undertaken. In turn, this takes pressure off the flood defences and ensures everything is working together to help protect the community. During this time, water levels in the Rangitāiki River will remain higher than normal for a few days but will reduce slowly as the inflow into the dam reduces.

The river levels are closely monitored by our Duty Flood Manager during a heavy rain event until spilling is no longer required from the dam.

It’s a no go for trail and quad bikes on parks and reserves

Whakatāne District Council bylaws prohibit the riding of motorbikes and quad bikes on park and reserve areas. These vehicles can cause serious damage and are potentially dangerous to other users. If you see trail or quad bikes on or accessing the River Trail or riverside reserve, we encourage you to please contact Whakatāne District Council on 07 306 0500. Photographs are very helpful for enforcement purposes.

Despite a wet start to the year, we’ve been making good progress on finalising Stage 2. We’ve included details in this update, what’s planned for Stage 3 and when this work is expected to be underway. We’ve provided an update on what’s happening with the inanga (whitebait) ponds near Stages 1 and 2.

Please don’t dump rubbish and greenwaste on or near stopbanks

Illegally dumped rubbish and greenwaste is expensive to remove and can cause damage to gear our contracting teams use to maintain stopbanks – tree branches and mowers don’t mix.

Stage 2 almost complete

This stage is divided into two parts, A and B. Stage 2 involves 20 properties, from 48 Henderson Street to 80 Landing Road and 2 – 6 Mananui Avenue. Due to consistently bad weather, Stage 2A progressed more slowly than expected, however it’s now complete, with repairs to the stopbank done and some finishing touches being made to grass cover and fencing.

Stage 2B involves work to the section of the stopbank where the floodwall is also located. Two teams have been working, with one removing vegetation and the other focusing on repairs to the stopbank. The teams are working with Whakatāne District Council to reduce the cumulative impact for residents beside the Hinemoa Stream, where a stormwater upgrade project is planned. We appreciate the ongoing support of residents and the positive feedback – thank you!

Stages 3 and 4 involve the stopbank behind Riverside Drive and this work is scheduled for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 constructions seasons (spring, summer and early autumn).

Why aren’t some trees allowed in certain areas on or near a stopbank?

Tree roots can grow through a stopbank and leave holes allowing water (seepage) to flow through it and cause the stopbank to fail. Tree roots can also get underneath floodwalls, lifting wall sections and breaking joints.

Stumps can also cause problems as they rot, leaving holes in the ground and potentially allowing water from sand layers beneath the ground to come up around the stump and impact the integrity of the stopbank.

Here are some photos from Stage 2 highlighting the risk of some trees and tree roots close to the stopbank and floodwall.

Members of the team checking out soil characteristics following removal of a large puriri tree.

Tree roots impacting the base of the floodwall and top of the stopbank.

Whakatāne Project Future Proof: What is it?

You may have heard that further upgrades to flood defences in the Whakatāne area are planned: Whakatāne Project Future Proof. This project will happen over multiple stages and involves upgrading the stopbanks and floodwalls along the town centre stretches of the river (from McAllister St Pump Station through to the Whakatāne Boat Ramp).

In April 2017, the Whakatāne district experienced widespread damage to homes, property, businesses, as a result of the events generated by ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie. As the climate changes, communities across New Zealand are adapting to meet the challenges of a rising sea level and more frequent, more significant rain events that may cause flooding.

Using data gathered from historical events, as well as what we understand about the changing climate, we know town flood defences need to be upgraded. We have been working closely with the Whakatāne District Council and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and will be having conversations with the community in the future, to keep you informed about work that is planned.

Bylaw Authority records

The team has had some queries about prior Bylaw Authorities issued for work on a property that may not have been passed on as part of information when the property has been sold.

Any property owner in a Bylaw applicable area can contact the Regional Council to find out if a Bylaw Authority has been issued for the property previously. Council has records for all Authorities that have been issued since the original Flood Property and Drainage Bylaws came into effect in 2002.

It’s worth noting that the Safeguarding our Stopbanks work is being undertaken on public land to remove structures and plantings that present a risk to the stopbanks integrity. This work is being undertaken under a project specific issued Bylaw management plan.

The bylaws aren’t in place to stop people from doing any work on their land, but instead ensure any work carried out doesn’t inadvertently affect the integrity of Council’s flood protection assets.

Helping safeguard native fish species

Where and when it’s practical the Council team tries to include habitat restoration as part of river and drainage maintenance work. The inanga ponds at Ferry Road are a good example of this. Inanga are the most common native fish species caught as whitebait.

The other species that make up the whitebait catch are banded kokopu, giant kokopu, kōaro and shortjaw kokopu.

The work in the Henderson Street area requires fill material to strengthen and repair the stopbanks. Excavation of the inanga ponds along the river edge is a very cost-effective source of fill material which also avoids the need to ‘truck in’ fill through residential streets in close proximity to schools.

The ponds provide important refuge for native fish species that are otherwise vulnerable to predatory fish in the main river channel.

Ongoing planting of native plants around the ponds is being supported by Halo Whakatāne and Trees for Survival, who are working with local schools to assist students to grow native plant seedlings and learn about native fish life cycles and conservation values.

It’s a big year ahead as our team progresses Stage 2 and works on planning for Stage 3, which they expect to get underway in October. This is to coincide with the construction ‘season’ over the warmer (and hopefully drier) months from October to April.

In this update you’ll find a quick guide on the process we’ve developed to progress this work alongside property owners.

We’ve also provided an update on what’s been happening, where things are at and how to stay informed.

If you would like to have a chat about the project or have any questions about this update you are welcome to contact us by email at riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz or phone 0800 884 880.

The Safeguarding our Stopbanks project team

How the team works with you

We often get asked how the ‘process’ works when it comes to liaising with property owners to get the work done. As a reminder, the vegetation and structures being removed as part of the Safeguarding our Stopbanks work are on public land and present a risk to the stopbank’s integrity.

While there are unique characteristics and circumstances associated with each property, our team typically uses the following approach when working with owners.

STEP 1: Information gathering

It’s important to gather as much information about a property and the surrounding area as possible, so this step involves examining property files, District Council permits, data from our GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping to identify any issues. Anyone can access our GIS system – just search ‘Maps’

STEP 2: Contact with owner

The team then contacts the property owner, by phone (or email if phone details are not available) to provide background to the work, overview of the current work and arrange a time that suits to visit the property.

STEP 3: Onsite visit

We then meet with the property owner on site – this can take up to an hour. Here we discuss proposed work on council-owned land and what it will likely involve e.g. tree removal, contouring of the stopbank, the impact of that work on private land and how we’ll remediate the work area, e.g. fencing, grass. We will also identify anything that needs specific geotechnical investigation (e.g. rotten tree stumps or structures close to the boundary).

STEP 4: Plan developed

Following the site visit, a member of our survey team will place markers to clearly highlight property boundaries. Any further geotechnical investigation and inspections are carried out, plus any arborist inspections needed to assess the health of trees close to the stopbank. The team reviews everything and develops a plan.

STEP 5: Plan finalised and work starts

Once the plan is finalised we discuss this with the owner, including fencing options and when the work will start. We also go over any last requirements the property owner has, for example ensuring temporary fencing is in place. We also give the owner plenty of time to organise the shifting of any items from the public land

STEP 6: Keeping in touch

While the work is underway, we stay in touch with the owner and advise any updates or answer any queries they may have.

Geotechnical testing on public land

You may have recently noticed some testing activity on the stopbank and berm area adjacent to the Riverside Drive stopbank. The testing involves a hand auger that bores a small hole to sampling depths (the holes are filled once the sampling is complete). The analysis of the sampling information helps the engineering team make decisions on remediation work.

Is this work connected to the Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaws?

The vegetation and structures being removed as part of the Safeguarding our Stopbanks work are on public land and present a risk to the stopbank’s integrity. This work is not dependent on the Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaws. It’s important to note the bylaws aren’t in place to stop people from doing any work on their land, but instead ensure any work carried out doesn’t inadvertently affect the reliability of Council’s flood protection assets.

Trail and quad bikes

Whakatāne District Council bylaws prohibit the riding of motorbikes and quad bikes on park and reserve areas. These vehicles can cause serious damage and are potentially dangerous to other users. If you see trail or quad bikes on or accessing the River Trail or riverside reserve, please contact Whakatāne District Council on 07 306 0500.

Did you know

This work is one part of ensuring 104km of stopbanks, including 14km of urban stopbanks in the Whakatāne-Tauranga River Scheme area, are fit for purpose.

Regional Council flood defences operate across four major river schemes and one drainage scheme in the Bay of Plenty.

The schemes are designated areas of land where we maintain and upgrade flood defences, manage riverbank erosion risks and do drain maintenance.

• The Rangitāiki-Tarawera Rivers Scheme covers 3005km² of the Rangitāiki catchment and 984km² of the Tarawera catchment. The Rangitāiki River is the region’s longest river at 155km, while the Tarawera River is 65km.
• The Kaituna Catchment Control Scheme includes Lake Rotorua and Rotoiti, as well as the Kaituna River. The whole catchment area covers 1,250km².
• The Waioeka-Otara Rivers Scheme covers the Waioeka River with a 825km² catchment and the Otara River with a 350km² catchment.
• The Rangitāiki Drainage Scheme provides drainage to much of the Rangitāiki Plains. The Rangitāiki Plains covers an area of 29,000ha across Matatā and Whakatāne, extending from the coast to Kawerau, and covers the lower flood plains of the Rangitāiki, Tarawera and Whakatāne Rivers.
• Your scheme, the Whakatāne-Tauranga Rivers Scheme, covers the Tauranga River (previously known as the Waimana River) with a 440km² area and the Whakatāne River with a 1100km² catchment.

All ratepayers across the region contribute to river and drain management.

Bad weather and poor ground conditions during much of November has delayed work on Stage 2. We’re hoping for more settled conditions over the next month to get as much done in the lead up to Christmas.

Contractors will be taking a short break over Christmas/New Year and be back on site from 9 January to continue remediating the stopbank. Work at the eastern end of Henderson Street where the floodwall is located is scheduled to commence late January. 

All work, which involves the removal of a number of large trees, stumps and tree roots, is expected to be completed by the end of March (again, depending on the weather).  Where work impacts existing fencing, please be assured fences will be repaired or replaced when the work is complete.

Once all this work is done, the final stage involves establishing a healthy grass cover on the stopbank, using hydroseeding - a process where seed, fertiliser and biodegradable mulch is mixed with water and sprayed onto the remediated area.

As part of preparing for future Stages 3 and 4 we will be undertaking some soil testing over the summer. In order to get good coverage of results some of this testing will be on private land. If your property is highlighted as a potential testing site we will be in contact with you directly.

Work is also being done to improve drainage along some sections of the riverside ‘toe’ or base of the stopbank behind Riverside Drive.  This involves reshaping parts of the stopbank, installing a new culvert and fencing to protect pumpstation infrastructure. This will ensure safer and easier access for maintenance and work purposes.

The team is also focussed on providing good fish spawning habitat (particularly for native species, such as inanga/whitebait). As part of this mahi, some drain improvements will be undertaken which involves maintaining vegetation on one side of the drain and planting native sedges along any disturbed or damaged section of the drain.

Regular link with community

A new community reference group, which includes residents impacted by the Safeguarding our Stopbanks work, has been established.

The reference group shares information, provides input on Council communications to residents, and feedback to the project team on what’s working well and opportunities for improvement.

The project team and reference group aim to meet monthly.

Keeping flood protection assets up to scratch

Staff are continuing work to assess the condition of council owned flood protections assets, including flood gates, walls, stopbanks and river drainage. This work involves identifying any defects and highlighting potential risk. The information is then fed into council’s asset maintenance and renewal programmes for the river schemes.

You can find out more on the region’s four major river schemes and one drainage scheme on Council’s website.

Council owns and maintains $440 million of flood protection and drainage assets across the region including:

• Over 380 km of stopbanks
• Nearly 3km of concrete flood walls
• 162 floodgates
• 12 pump stations

Cut and carry grass

Some residents in Riverside Drive, Mananui Crescent, Ferry Road and Henderson Street may have noticed contractors cutting grass on Regional Council-managed land near their property. This work helps ensure that in a flood event river water can easily flow over land between the stopbank and the river.

Contractors, who work under license from the Regional Council, expect to carry out this work several times a year and will endeavour to notify residents of the cutting operation in advance.

Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaws

The team has had a few questions regarding any link between these bylaws and the Safeguarding our Stopbanks work.

These two pieces of work are independent, as the vegetation and structures being removed as part of the Safeguarding our Stopbanks work are on Council land and present a risk to the stopbank’s integrity.

It’s important to note the bylaws aren’t in place to stop people from doing any work on their land, but instead ensure any work carried out doesn’t inadvertently affect the reliability of Council’s flood protection assets.

Some activities needing a Bylaw Authority include:

• Geotechnical investigations
• Planting/removing trees or shrubs
• Building/removing fences, garden sheds
• Building/extending a house, shed or adding a deck
• Constructing/removing a retaining wall
• Constructing/removing an in-ground swimming pool Geotechnical investigations.
• Subdividing a property

Trail and quad bikes

Whakatāne District Council bylaws prohibit the riding of motorbikes and quad bikes on park and reserve areas. These vehicles can cause serious damage and are potentially dangerous to other users.

If you see trail or quad bikes on or accessing the River Trail or riverside reserve, please contact Whakatāne District Council on 07 306 0500.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Regional Council work to safeguard stopbanks along urban sections of the Whakatāne River. We trust this update provides a useful update on what’s been happening, where things are at and how to stay informed.

If you would like to have a chat about this work or have any questions about this update you are welcome to contact us by email at riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz or phone 0800 884 881.

A quick recap on why this work is underway

Stopbanks are only as strong as their weakest link and vulnerable to damage from inappropriate use, vegetation or structures that shouldn’t be there.

Over the years non-approved structures, trees and gardens have been established outside private property boundaries (encroachments). These can create weakness in the stopbank, which can cause water to flow through during a flood and lead to the stopbank failing.

The Safeguarding our Stopbanks work involves removing some of the vegetation and structures so the stopbank can be repaired and strengthened and continue to do its job to protect the community from flooding.

It’s important to note that this work is not related to Council’s Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaws. The vegetation and structures are being removed because they are on Council land and present a risk to the stopbank’s integrity.

The work is being done stages. Completing each stage on time is weather dependent, however our teams are working to the following schedule:

• Stage 1: Henderson Street west and Ferry Road complete
• Stage 2: October 2022 – March 2023 Henderson Street east, Landing Road and Mananui Crescent
• Stage 3: October 2023 – March 2024 Riverside Drive south
• Stage 4: October 2024 – March 2025 Riverside Drive north

What’s happening?

Work is underway on Stage 2, and our sincere thanks to directly affected property owners who have taken the time to meet and discuss this work with us over the last few months. Our team will keep in touch with these owners during the work to ensure any queries or concerns are addressed quickly.

Contractors will be in the area until at least March next year to remediate the stopbank, including where the floodwall is located. They will ensure work sites are well marked out, with appropriate health and safety measures in place. The work will be undertaken in two workstreams, with the stopbank section planned to be completed by the end of December and the stopbank/floodwall section to be undertaken early in the new year.

It’s important to note that some of this work is weather dependent, however we’re hoping a settled summer will support progress. The work will involve the removal of a number of large trees, stumps and tree roots. Where this impacts on existing fencing please be assured that fences will be repaired or replaced when the work is complete.

You may also see heavy machinery placing and compacting fill material and contouring parts of the stopbank. Once this work is done, the finishing work involves establishing a healthy grass cover using hydroseeding - a process where seed, fertiliser and biodegradable mulch is mixed with water and sprayed onto the remediated area of the stopbank.

As part of preparing for future Stages 3 and 4 we will be undertaking soil testing over the summer. In order to get good coverage of results some of this testing will be on private land. If your property is highlighted as a potential testing site we will be in touch with you directly.

Our team will also be out progressing other maintenance work along riverside areas of the stopbank. On occasion, this work may involve the use of machinery as part of drainage maintenance and stump removal.