Foxton under pressure

Dealing with climate change in Foxton is set to become a challenge, as the low-lying area is hit by rising sea levels and extreme rain.

But first, the regional council is looking at ways to prevent flooding in the meantime and is asking for residents’ opinions.

Horizons Regional Council, as part of its Long-term Plan, is proposing a targeted rate to help pay for improvements to the Foxton East drainage scheme.

The council’s group manager for river management Ramon Strong said the plan involved building a pipeline linking a drain on the east side of the town, known as Kings Canal, to the Foxton Loop.

Kings Canal runs to the loop, but could back up when it was especially wet, Strong said.

‘‘It does not take much for it to back up and spill into adjoining areas.

‘‘Some of those areas are farm land, but also residential areas.’’

The wet 2017, combined with the high water table around Foxton, caused recent flooding.

The pipeline would enable more water to get to the loop without flooding out of Kings Canal, Strong said.

Foxton faced various problems related to climate change, including sea-level rises and changes in rainfall. ‘‘The best science available says the west of the region will get wetter over time,’’ Strong said. That, combined with Foxton’s low-lying position, meant there would be continual drainage challenges in the future. To futureproof the pipeline, it would be built with the option of adding a pump station, he said.

Although the pump station was not part of the draft Long-term Plan, Strong said the council may have to look at it when the next review of the plan came around.

Construction of the pipeline, which would be funded by both Horizons and Horowhenua District councils, was scheduled to start in 2020.

Meetings with Foxton residents had already been held, Strong said.

Suggestions included detention dams and storage ponds, and Strong said the council wanted to hear any ideas.

People have until April 30 to submit on the Long-term Plan. See haveyoursay.horizons.govt.nz, or call 0508 800 800.