The Waimakariri district is among the recipients of the Government's $11.4m flood resilience funding for Canterbury.

It includes $2.4m for projects on the Ashley Rakahuri and Waimakariri rivers.

Waimakariri District Council chief executive Jeff Millward said flooding was a major risk for the district.

‘‘Our main townships are in between these two rivers, so we’re obviously thrilled to see projects like these get given the go-ahead as they’re great tools to mitigate risk and protect our communities.’’

In 2023, more than 150mm of rain fell over three days and the council received around 335 service requests from affected residents.

It led to the council setting aside around $4m for infrastructure repairs and the establishment of an infrastructure resilience team to lead flood recovery work alongside Environment Canterbury (ECan).

The team was called into action during the rain event in May, where the council forked out $1 in emergency repairs.

The Ashley / Rakahuri River project will receive $1.5m towards a $2.5m project, while $900,000 has been allocated towards a $1.5m project on the Waimakariri River.

ECan chief executive Dr Stefanie Rixecker said the $11.4m funding is a significant investment from the Government, with ECan contributing $7.6m towards the total budget of $19m.

Flooding projects across seven Canterbury rivers identified in ECan’s 30-year infrastructure programme will receive funding from the second tranche of the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund.

It will fund stopbank and floodgate upgrades, rock work, gravel extraction, vegetation clearance, berm strengthening and telemetry upgrades to rivers across the region.

‘‘Flooding is New Zealand’s number one natural hazard, with a major event occurring on average every eight months, and regional government cannot address it alone,’’ Dr Rixecker said.

‘‘This investment will save lives, safeguard critical lifeline infrastructure such as roads, bridges, railway lines, hospitals, and schools, while also protecting culturally significant sites, farmland and local businesses.’’

The funding will also support flood warning infrastructure upgrades, structure upgrades and the region’s adaptation programme.
Infrastructure upgrades will be made on the Ashburton / Hakatere, Ashley / Rakahuri, Kowhai (Kaikōura), Opihi, Orari, Pareora and Waimakariri rivers.

Kaikōura’s Kowhai River flood protection works project will receive $750,000 from the Government towards a $1.25m project.

‘‘Really fantastic news and great to see the Kaikōura flood resilience protection works upgrade project receive funding,’’ Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said.

‘‘We have been discussing the need for further joint action, especially at the Kowhai, with Environment Canterbury (ECan) for a while as everyone recognises the increased risk to our local braided rivers post earthquake.’’

Mr Doughty said flood protection work is badly need to avoid a repeat of the Kowhai River flood experienced in the 1990s.

South Island Minister James Meager said the Government will invest nearly $97m into 32 flood resilience projects, including 22 across the South Island.

‘‘We know parts of the South Island, like the West Coast, have some of the most difficult and treacherous terrain in the world, and this investment is an acknowledgement of the critical need to safeguard our communities.

‘‘[Canterbury] is vulnerable to flooding, particularly in severe weather events, and with this investment stretching from Temuka to Kaikōura, there’s no doubt all Cantabrians will benefit.’’

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said the Canterbury projects will help protect more than 10,000 houses and around 50,000 hectares of land.

‘‘Recent major weather events in Canterbury have highlighted the region’s vulnerability to both localised and large-scale flooding.’’

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.