West Coast Climate Resilience and Flood Protection works

Four Inovo team members are involved in this significant programme of works. We are Project Managers for procurement and construction, and Infrastructure Programme Manager providing strategic advice to Council and governance and assistance to secure additional co-funding, which has come through various sources including private investment, Waka Kotahi and rates. Inovo is a vital link to Kānoa, the MBIE entity who manages the ‘shovel ready’ funds and oversees the progress of the projects. Inovo is also working closely with the Council’s Infrastructure Governance Committee.

The Hokitika and Kaniere Resilience Project involves work on the river flood protection scheme over several stages. The river wall is being raised from Town Belt E in stages to Sunset Point on the river mouth. A new river wall is being constructed at Kaniere. These works will provide far greater resilience and protection from the river from a 1:100-year flood event.

For Westport, an advanced flood warning system has been completed, which will achieve up to eight hours warning for the evacuation of Westport in the event of excessive flooding of the Buller River.

At Greymouth the primary works are an extension to the current floodwall over five stages.

The Waiho River Protection Scheme at Franz Josef involves raising the height of the current stop banks and determining how to manage the Waiho River for the long-term. A series of works have been necessitated over the years as the dynamic nature of the glacier melt and rain events release vast tonnages of material off the surrounding hillside and into the river, which is transported downstream, causing the riverbed to rise. Over time, the Waiho bridge and flood banks either side of the river have been raised, to alleviate the risk of flooding into the township and danger to infrastructure as the river level is now higher than the town.  Stage two at Franz Joseph is proposed further ‘hold the line’ works on the south side of the river.  A feasibility study has been completed and funding has been secured from Kānoa. The next steps are planning and procurement for distinct sectors of the flood banks.

There is a high level of complexity in flood protection works and Inovo continues to support the West Coast Regional Council with strategic advisory and infrastructure programme manager services as Council navigate the difficult decisions on how work is funded, accessing comprehensive technical advice and modelling data, community consultation, working with government agencies, making decisions about the design, alignment, property, resource management, construction, project management and cost elements of the preferred flood risk mitigation scheme, and along term river management plan, and then working through the construction and implementation phases.