On May 18, 2005, an intense storm in the catchments above Matatā caused flooding and debris flows which destroyed 27 houses and damaged 30 per cent of the properties in the township.
Of the 27 houses, six were within the Awatarariki fan head.
Following the disaster, Whakatāne District Council made a policy decision to work with government agencies and the community to implement a recovery plan and protect the town from future debris flow events.
Between 2005 and 2012, the council investigated a range of possible engineering options, including a debris dam and a ring net structure, to mitigate the risk from future debris flows in the Awatarariki Stream catchment.
However, expert advice subsequently confirmed there was no viable engineering solution.