"The current level of protection is negligible and large flood events are very likely to happen again," Mr Baron said.
"To me it's a no brainer. We need a reasonable level of protection and we should be guided by the experts as to what that is," he said.
Mr Baron said the cost of cleaning up Kowhai Park from the June 2015 flood had reached $361,000 - although some of that was covered by insurance.
Larger stopbanks, rated to either one in 100 years, or one in 200 years, seemed the likely answer, he said. One hundred year protection would raise stopbanks by about one metre and 200 year protection by 1.5 metres.
"One metre would have protected Anzac Parade from the last flood, but that may not be sufficient with storms becoming more severe."
Relocating Kowhai Park was extreme and too expensive, Mr Baron said.
"Surrendering the land is not economically viable - it's pie in the sky - in reality it would not be practical."
"There's still a major arterial route and the cost of raising the road would be prohibitive."
He was also concerned about the design of a bridge spanning the Matarawa Stream which he believed would require upgrading.
"Upstream from the bridge is the weak part of the system, and this bridge acts as a dam forcing the water higher. We probably need a new bridge."
Whanganui East is one of three vulnerable parts of the city which also includes the river end of the central business district and Balgownie through to the North Mole.
Balgownie already has the highest level of protection in place with 200-year stopbanks "as does most of Palmerston North."
Horizons said feedback from Whanganui would be taken into consideration and any recommendations that are adopted by the Horizons council will go into its 2018 - 2028 long term plan.