Bid to ease Masterton flood risk

FOCUS: The Waipoua River in full flood is a focus of flood protection measures. PHOTO/FILE

The sensitive subject of flood protection for Masterton has taken another turn with news yesterday two councils have found common ground on how to approach the risk.

Masterton District Council (MDC) and Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) have agreed to take a " collaborative approach" on flood protection for the town with the long-term objective of achieving a 100-year flood level of protection, with allowances for climate change.

This follows recent floodplain modelling work by the two councils that confirms flood risks do exist.

Last August the regional council sprang a surprise on hundreds of Masterton property owners from Akura Rd on one side of town to Lees Pakaraka Rd on the other by releasing details of research gathered over 20 years using aerial photos, surveys and other techniques that identified their properties as being at risk.

Information packs were sent to them explaining the risk and advising owners on what they could do regarding things such as insurance and property development.

But in March the district council claimed new data, gathered by its senior officers in conjunction with Niwa, had come up with an entirely different scenario that showed the Waipoua River in particular would not only handle a one in a 100-year flood but would likely cope with double that.

In the latest move the district council has shifted its ground to say Masterton is protected to the level of a one in 50-year flood.

MDC and GWRC now agree that due to the increased risk of extreme weather and challenges caused by climate change, extra protection is needed to "ensure ongoing protection into the future".

According to the joint councils, the initial focus will be on assessing and upgrading any potential weak points in the town's flood protection, which might not meet the base 50-year protection level.

This focus will provide information on the benefits and feasibility of staging future upgrades, in order to spread the cost.

The district council's chief executive Pim Borren said the two councils are most effective in the community "when we are working together towards common objectives".

"We have different responsibilities in terms of flood protection and land use, but share the one clear objective of ensuring that our community is adequately protected from the risk of flooding both now and in the future."

The regional council will be carrying out further development work on options in coming months through its Floodplain Management Plan process.