Input into council flood plan called for

The Greater Wellington Regional Council wants to speak to anybody who is affected by the rivers in the Upper Wairarapa Valley, as it updates its system for managing the floodplain north of Carterton.

That includes the Ruamahanga, Waingawa, Waipoua, Whangaehu, Kopuaranga and Taueru Rivers.

Masterton-based flood engineer George Harley said the management of those rivers and risks to flood-prone land around them would be pulled together in the floodplain management plan.

He said the plan would look at where floodwaters would go in floods of various sizes.

"We will update the existing information about the extent of flooding with up-to-date aerial survey data and computer models that can more accurately predict where the floodwaters will extend to and to what depth," he said.

"People's recollections of high-water marks and areas of past flooding will be very useful, too."

Mr Harley said the rivers needed to be managed for the benefit of everyone.

"When putting this plan together we need to look at how people use the river for recreation, how they value it's cultural and heritage aspect, and the best way of managing the environment in the water and around the banks," he said.

"If people have a stake in these rivers and want to have a say in managing them, we want to hear from them."

Information will be available at the Masterton A&P; show this weekend, or people can contact Mr Harley on (06) 378 2484.