Flood protection in full swing after Cyclone Gabrielle

With the upgrade of the 25-kilometre stretch of Waipaoa stopbank from Ormond to the ocean complete, the focus is on the western side upstream of Patutahi while Kirkpatrick Road is also being modified as part of the Waipaoa project. Pictures by Liam Clayton

Major construction works are going on at great pace as stopbanks around the region are built up following Cyclone Gabrielle.

Gisborne District Council regional rivers manager Joss Ruifrok said the eastern (city) side of the Waipaoa stopbank flood control upgrade was complete.

“This is a 25-kilometre stretch from Ormond township to the ocean, which is now both higher and significantly wider.

“This higher standard will provide more flood protection accounting for climate change effects out to 2090 (greater rain events and sea level rise).

“The focus is now on the western side of the river, with about 17 kilometres already completed downstream of the Patutahi township.

“Work will continue upstream of Patutahi, with 25 kilometres of stopbanks to be progressively upgraded to a higher level of flood protection.”

The project is on target to be completed in around three years (pending favourable weather conditions).

An $18 million funding application submitted to fully complete the Waipaoa stopbank construction works was formally approved in February.

Kirkpatrick Road is also being modified as part of the Waipaoa project. This work involves raising the road’s low points located on either side of the Whakaahu Stream up to the higher stopbank design height.

Construction work started in early February and is expected to be completed in April.

Mr Ruifrok said work was also under way on the Te Karaka Flood Resilience Improvement Project, which focuses on the development of a hydraulic model in the first instance.

“A partial model was completed in February 2024 which replicates the sequence of flooding that happened during Cyclone Gabrielle.

“There will be ongoing improvements to this model and we’re planning workshops with the community to validate and further refine it.”