He kōrero nā te Kaunihera o Wairau. News from Marlborough District Council.

Evacuation avoided for Spring Creek community There was relief for the Spring Creek community last Friday when Marlborough Civil and Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) lifted the evacuation advisory for part of the township.

The Wairau River was running lower than the weather models had suggested after sustained rain in the river’s upper catchments.

Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell was in Marlborough and thanked the teams for their work. He said it was far better to be safe than sorry and commended the teams for their early warning to the community saying, “we should always plan for the worst.”

Mayor Nadine Taylor and the Minister discussed future funding for repairs to the Spring Creek stop banks. The works have been submitted to the Government as part of the 'Before the Deluge' business case for co-investment. If successful, the project could receive a

60 per cent contribution to its $8.7M cost.

The flood protection works to ensure Spring Creek is protected from future flooding is scheduled in Council’s Long Term Plan.

Council’s Rivers and Drainage Engineer Andy White said the stop banks were critical pieces of flood protection infrastructure that became compromised after the Kaikōura earthquake and 2021 and 2022 storms.

Where faults have been revealed they have been repaired, however a picture is emerging that the stop bank is vulnerable along its entire length, he said.

“Action is required with some urgency to upgrade the stop banks,” he said. “Until the work is undertaken, they remain at an elevated risk of failing before reaching their design limits, compromising the safety of Spring Creek township during a flood event.” Initial estimates suggest up to 35,000 tonnes of rock is needed, most of which could come from the nearby Pukaka Quarry. Post-event analysis of the July 2021 flood event has also highlighted a need to increase the flood capacity safety margin.

Mayor Taylor has suggested a meeting be held with the Spring Creek community so that the Rivers team can explain the complexity of the stop bank issues and hear from locals.