Update at 22 March 2024
Stormwater update
Stormwater improvements to be discussed at community board meeting 4 April
Following the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, two flood risk catchment areas have been identified in Port Waikato where mitigation work is needed to significantly reduce future storm damage.
Waikato District Council’s first step is an investigative study that includes flood modelling of the area. This will identify key areas in the two catchments that require improvements and the works needed.
To help reduce future adverse effects on the community from storm events, Waikato District Council will receive $2,350,000 from the Local Government Flood Resilience Co-investment Fund which will support the works recommended by the study.
To help us gather feedback from the community on the complex and varied issues involved, there will be community consultation at various stages of the project.
Our team will be at the Rural Port Waikato Community Board meeting on 4 April, at which we will:
- Show preliminary flood modelling results.
- Outline potential projects/solutions/constraints.
- Discuss main drivers including resilience and funding requirements.
- Listen to concerns and priorities.
- Discuss prioritisation of the recommended projects.
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday 4 April, 6.30pm at Naike Community Hall.
Repairing cyclone damage on Onewhero roads
Work to repair roads in the Onewhero area damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle is scheduled to start in April 2024.
During the initial months after the Auckland Anniversary weekend storms, and Cyclone Gabrielle in mid-February 2023, the immediate priority was to fix the worst of the damage to make sure roads in the area were passable. The focus is now on long-term network resilience, ensuring roads are permanently reinstated in a way that reduces the risk of significant damage from future severe weather events.
Repairs will commence in April on three priority sites across a 2km stretch of Onewhero Tuakau Bridge Road, between Onewhero township and Te Awa Kite Road. Repairs will also address a major underslip on Wairamarama Onewhero Road, between Klondyke Road and Parsons Road.
Works include repairing damage to the road corridor and repairs or improvements to damaged retaining walls.
Traffic management will be in place with stop-go signs or temporary traffic lights and is expected to last several months. Exact dates are to be confirmed but it is anticipated that the roads will be fully open by July. No road closures are anticipated and, when work is safely off road, two-way traffic flow will be in place with speed restrictions.
Councillor Carolyn Eyre, Waikato District representative for Western Districts, said that she will be pleased to see action on these repairs starting soon. “Ensuring safe access in these critical rural areas is a major step in our journey back to normality, as well as helping residents have reliable local road networks for years to come.”
Due to the vast area of damage to the network, the permanent reinstatement programme of post-Cyclone repair work will continue until June 2025 across the whole district, mostly around Taukau and Port Waikato.
Getting help and information
Mark Curtis
Three Waters Support Engineer
Responsibilities: Storm water and drainage system
Email: Mark.Curtis@waidc.govt.nz
Jim Ebenhoh
Planning and Policy Manager
Responsibilities: Planning and Policy Manager
Email: Jim.Ebenhoh@waidc.govt.nz
Reece Turner
Recovery Manager
Email: Reece.Turner@waidc.govt.nz
Scott Bult
Emergency Management Advisor
Email: Scott.Bult@waidc.govt.nz