Whanganui River responsibilities to be cleared up

A memorandum of understanding will clarify responsibility for the lower Whanganui River. Photo/ Stuart Munro

Moves have begun to create a memorandum of understanding between Horizons Regional Council, Whanganui District Council and Te Awa Tupua and Tupoho.

It would outline which council is responsible for what when it comes to repairing decaying infrastructure on the Whanganui River from Cobham Bridge to the sea.

Horizons voted to pursue the MOU on Tuesday while WDC will discuss it next week.

Both councils would then have to consult the public in next year's long term plan process as it would change how rates were charged by each council.

Horizons chairman Bruce Gordon said historically the district had looked after much of what should be with Horizons.

In 2007 the regional council took responsibility for flood risk management through the city and vegetation control from WDC.

It is proposed Horizons should now take are of channel training and erosion protection structures along the south spit and the south and north mole to its current function.

WDC would continue to have responsibility for port infrastructure, the turning basin, stormwater outlets and boating infrastructure.

Mr Gordon said the Whanganui River needed to be brought in line with how rivers were managed across the region.

"I'd really like to get it tidied up," he said.

Mr Gordon said that would allow much needed maintenance to be carried out without debate over who was responsible.

"This report highlights there's some serious deferred maintenance," he said.

"If something was to happen in a storm event and there was a breach of the south spit it would be catastrophic, especially for the people of Balgownie.

"Those walls weren't designed for seawalls hitting them."

Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall said he was pleased the issue was moving forward.

Meanwhile, the two people who are to represent Te Awa Tupua - the Whanganui River's legal personhood - are yet to be announced.

An announcement has been expected for weeks but neither the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations or Whanganui iwi returned calls on Thursday.