Isolated areas face serious flood risks
CLIMATE CHANGE: The Govt has identified dozens of rural districts totally unprepared for increased flooding threats, writes Katie Scotcher.
AGovernment report has for the first time identified dozens of communities at serious risk of flooding and totally unprepared for it. Westport was hit by devastating flooding in July last year, prompting the Government to look closer at just how bad the risk is in the area.
The report found Westport was extremely vulnerable to flooding with little protection to prevent it and because of the low median household income there, local authorities can’t fund the work through rates to protect the town.
It also examined the risk nationwide and identified 44 communities in the same boat, spread across 12 regions with more than half in the upper North Island.
Ministers are now considering how to help the communities — and abandoning these areas altogether is on the table.
Associate Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty said most areas of New Zealand were at risk of severe weather.
“We know that New Zealand is prone to weather events and we also know with climate change that those weather events are becoming more severe and more frequent.
“So if we are going to plan and put provisions in place we need to have a clearer understanding as to what we’re dealing with. This report painted a pretty grim picture but it is also the reality and it’s important information for any planning.”
Nine of the communities flagged as being at risk are in Gisborne.
The region’s mayor, Rehette Stoltz, said that was not unexpected.
“If we just look back at the last three years, with all of the flooding eventswe have experienced here, it’s absolutely no surprise.”
Stoltz said some flood protection projects were in the council’s 10-year plan.
“We are such a spread-out community, there are so many different smaller communities that need that attention that we will have to talk to the Government to see how they can assist us to protect those communities.
“We live in a high-deprivation community, sowe cannot leverage everything off rates. We will have to talk to the Government to see how we can work together to address this issue. We cannot do it on our own.”
McAnulty said some regions were having difficult conversations with isolated communities, as they couldn’t afford to fix damaged roads.
“That’s not going to be an isolated incident, that’s going to be commonplace across the country, as climate change continues to bite.
“For example, in Marlborough, July 2021, there was roughly $85 million of damage done to the local roads. The Government kicked in with 95 per cent to cover that.
“And then earlier this year, in August, the weather event, which is still being assessed, is likely to cause more damage.
“That’s unsustainable going forward.
“There’s some pretty big discussions and decisions to be made there at a local level, the Government also has to get its head around what role it can play in that as well.”
Managedretreats
McAnulty said the Government was now considering how to help those communities most at risk and all options, including total abandonment of areas, were on the table.
“We’ve seen examples in Australia where whole communities have been moved out of a vulnerable location,” he said. “When these towns and communities were set up, itmade sense to put them where they are. ● Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Hokianga Harbour region, Helena Bay and Ruawai
●
Waiuku
● Thames, Huntly, Nga¯ruawa¯hia, Taupiri, Puta¯ruru, Tokoroa, Te Kuiti, Benneydale/ Maniaiti and Tu¯rangi
● Waihi Beach/ Bowentown, Maketu, Te Puke, po¯tiki, Rotorua and Lake ka¯reka
● Tikitiki, Ruatoria, Tuparoa, Whareponga, Waipiro Bay, Tokomaru Bay, Tologa Bay/ Hauiti, Te Karaka and Gisborne itself
● taki and taki Beach, the Kapiti Coast from Waikanae to Paeka¯ka¯riki
● Waitara and New Plymouth
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Masterton
● Nelson, Hector, Granity, Westport, Kairaki Beach, South Dunedin, Mosgiel and Balclutha
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