Horizons Regional councillors' jet boat tour of the moles

Horizons Regional councillors took a jet boat tour on the lower Whanganui River on Thursday. Photo/ Stuart Munro

Horizons Regional councillors took a jet boat tour of the lower Whanganui River on Thursday as discussions about much needed infrastructure upgrades begin.

Next year the council will be planning staged upgrades to the river infrastructure, including the moles.

Whanganui based councillor David Cotton was on the boat yesterday and said the trip was about seeing what needs to be done and getting a better understanding.

"It's a lot easier seeing it in person than just reading it on a report," he said.

"Just in terms of the deferred maintenance, you can just see the large structures that have been left over a number of years and the work that needs to be done."

Horizons river management group manager Ramon Strong said it was important councillors got a first hand look.

"This is going to be a relatively big issue for Horizons to consider as part of its long term plan (next year) so it's really getting them to understand so when they come to making those decisions they've got a mental picture," he said.

The north and south moles are a major part of the work required.

"They haven't had maintenance on them in quite some time," Mr Strong said.

Horizons Regional Councillor David Cotton and river management group manager Ramon Strong discuss work needed on the lower Whanganui River. Photo/ Stuart Munro

"It's not on the cusp of being critical but they're deteriorating over time. Things aren't going to catastrophically collapse tomorrow.

"[But] the longer they're left, the bigger that investment cost will be to actually bring them up to a functional state."

Mr Strong said there had been south spit breaches before and it had "not been good for Whanganui".

Any breach of the south spit would increase silt coming into the lower river and reduce the effectiveness of flood protection.

"They have and that's why a lot of this infrastructure has been developed over time to make sure that doesn't happen," Mr Strong said.

"There's implications for that and it's just a matter of showing councillors where and what that means."

The matter came up at Whanganui District Council's infrastructure and special projects committee earlier this year where it was revealed the airport, harbour, Wharf St boat ramp and parts of Castlecliff are at risk were at risk should the moles breach.

At the time councillor Rob Vinsen said "the safety, the very existence of Castlecliff, is at risk."

During the recent election campaign Labour pledged $3million to put into repairing the two moles.

Earlier this month moves to create a memorandum of understanding between Horizons Regional Council, Whanganui District Council and Te Awa Tupua and Tupoho around which organisation was responsible for what when it comes to repairing the river's decaying infrastructure got underway.

Horizons voted to pursue the MOU and councils will need to consult the public in next year's long term plan process as it will change how rates are charged by each council.

It is proposed Horizons take care of channel training and erosion protection structures along the south spit and the south and north mole.