Bay of Plenty Regional Council spends $100k on repairing Rotorua flood damage

The Ngongotahā Stream breached its banks after heavy rain on April 29 and the clean up is still taking place.

Repairs have been made to 30 of the 200 locations along local streams damaged during the April 29 floods.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council had completed repairs along the lower Ngongotahā, Utuhuina and Puarenga Streams, Rotorua catchments manager Helen Creagh said.

"We made it our first priority to survey the whole Rotorua Lakes area and reduce further flood risk by removing the highest risk stream blockages caused by the storm," she said.

"Since then our staff have been working through a prioritised list of sites where erosion repair or debris removal is needed to reduce ongoing risk to buildings, access or of debris dam formation."

To date, more than $100,000 has been spent by the regional council on stream clean-up and repair work including the removal of at least 10 truckloads of logs, mulched bamboo, willow, and other debris from the Ngongotahā Stream.

Some of the sites took a week or more to fix, regional council rivers and drainage engineer Kerry Smith said.

A spot at Parawai Marae on the Ngongotahā Stream needed 350 tonnes of rock reinforcement to stabilise the stream bank.

"Other sites have taken just a few hours or days to clear debris and fix fences. There's still lots more work to do in the coming months," Smith said.

"We're also establishing stockpiles so we're ready for erosion repair works this summer when stream levels are lower," Mr Smith said.

Creagh said regional council staff had also been supporting rural landowners with flood repairs and clean-up on their properties.

"Some farmers are keen to improve their future flood resilience by fencing and planting wider riparian buffer areas."

"It's a good way to protect their precious soils and local water quality at the same time."

Landowners can discuss their plans with the council by calling 0800 884 880.