Latest news with #ProjectDeliveryPlan
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Community Feedback Sought As Flood Mitigation Makes Progress
The community is being asked to provide feedback on a proposed legislative amendment that would enable a streamlined consenting process – established to speed up flood mitigation works – to be used to deliver much-needed flood mitigation to Wairoa. The Hawke's Bay Flood Protection Works Order 2024 covers eight locations across Hawke's Bay, including Wairoa, and sets out a streamlined resource consent process for flood mitigation works to help enable Councils to move Category 2C properties to Category 1. Whilst much of North Clyde is already covered under the existing Order, Hawke's Bay Regional Council has asked the Government to update the map and description for Wairoa to reflect the proposed Option 1C+. Hawke's Bay Regional Council Chair, Hinewai Ormsby, says the amendment will help to speed up the construction of the proposed flood mitigation solution. 'With the land access negotiations now well underway, it's important to look ahead to the next steps in the project. 'Provided land access can be secured, our request to the Government is important to get confirmed so we can start construction as planned in late 2025. It's also an important step for our Wairoa community who have been incredibly patient as we work through these matters.' Crown Manager, Lawrence Yule, says the project continues to make good progress in other areas following last month's confirmation of the Crown's $70 million of funding. 'With the Project Delivery Plan (PDP) approved and funding confirmed, the project's focus remains on securing the land access required to deliver flood mitigation for Wairoa. 'Negotiations have already been completed for one property, which is a fantastic outcome not just for the project but for the homeowners, who have finally been able to move forward with their lives more than two years after Cyclone Gabrielle. 'Property valuations are currently being completed on several other properties, and we continue to engage directly with impacted home and landowners to try and find a solution that enables them to move forward with certainty.' Mr Yule says additional cultural assessment activity is planned, to complement the Cultural Impact Assessment (CIA) previously completed in late January. 'We recognise mātauranga Māori exists in many places and forms and remain very open to receiving further cultural input. We appreciate the way mana whenua, including marae representatives, continue to engage with us and thank those who have provided valuable input into this process.' Note: Have your say The Ministry for the Environment will be accepting feedback on the proposed amendment until 5pm on Friday, 30 May 2025. More information is available online:
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Wairoa's $70 Million Of Crown Funding Released
Press Release – Hawke's Bay Regional Council Crown Manager, Lawrence Yule says progressing Option 1C+ remains subject to land accessibility, and the project team continues to engage directly with those home and landowners impacted by the proposed flood mitigation solution. Wairoa's much-needed flood mitigation solution is one step closer, with the full $70 million of Crown funding ring-fenced for Wairoa released following joint Ministerial approval of the Project Delivery Plan (PDP). The PDP was submitted to the Crown in late March by Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) and was based on the preferred flood mitigation solution Option 1C+ – a refined flood mitigation solution that, once constructed, will enable 627 properties to shift from Category 2C to Category 1. This followed a decision by HBRC to progress Option 1C+ at its meeting on 26 March 2025. Crown Manager, Lawrence Yule says progressing Option 1C+ remains subject to land accessibility, and the project team continues to engage directly with those home and landowners impacted by the proposed flood mitigation solution. 'As individual owners have indicated they are ready, we have commenced the independent valuation process, and this work will continue to make progress over the coming weeks. 'We're also working with both the Māori Land Court and Te Tumu Paeroa, where appropriate, to support the ongoing kōrero with owners of whenua Māori.' The Crown's $70 million of funding had been set aside following confirmation of HBRC's cost-sharing agreement with the Government in August 2023 for flood mitigation in the region. HBRC Chair Hinewai Ormsby says: 'Securing the Crown's support and endorsement for the preferred flood mitigation solution Option 1C+ is a significant milestone and an important step forward for the project and for our Wairoa community, with whom we have worked closely to get to this place. It also demonstrates the Government's faith in the process followed to date, and confidence in our ability to deliver a technically viable flood mitigation solution for Wairoa.' Mr Yule agrees, saying: 'Getting to this point in the project is a direct reflection of the huge amount of work that's been done by all involved, and a testament to the way in which the people of Wairoa have come together to progress one of the most significant infrastructure and resilience projects ever delivered in Wairoa. 'With the PDP approved, the project's focus remains on securing the land access required to deliver flood mitigation for Wairoa.' Further cultural assessment activity is also ongoing, to ensure the proposed flood mitigation solution can protect marae and other cultural taonga, including Te Kopua and Waihirere Urupā. 'There is still a significant amount of mahi ahead for us all, and we remain committed to progressing this work at pace, and to continuing to work together to help safeguard the resilience and wellbeing of the community of Wairoa,' Mr Yule says. Notes: Preferred flood mitigation solution Option 1C+ features three components: 1. A1.1km, 190-metre-wide floodway, with stopbanks on either side, in North Clyde. The floodway will temporarily allow excess water to flow through it only when river levels reach a certain height. 2. A secondary stopbank on the southern side of the river, from the SH2 bridge in the Wairoa township, along the river esplanade and toward Mitchell Road. The total length of the stopbank is currently estimated to be around 1.2km. 3. Lifting the floor level of three houses in Frasertown.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Wairoa's $70 Million Of Crown Funding Released
Wairoa's much-needed flood mitigation solution is one step closer, with the full $70 million of Crown funding ring-fenced for Wairoa released following joint Ministerial approval of the Project Delivery Plan (PDP). The PDP was submitted to the Crown in late March by Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) and was based on the preferred flood mitigation solution Option 1C+ - a refined flood mitigation solution that, once constructed, will enable 627 properties to shift from Category 2C to Category 1. This followed a decision by HBRC to progress Option 1C+ at its meeting on 26 March 2025. Crown Manager, Lawrence Yule says progressing Option 1C+ remains subject to land accessibility, and the project team continues to engage directly with those home and landowners impacted by the proposed flood mitigation solution. 'As individual owners have indicated they are ready, we have commenced the independent valuation process, and this work will continue to make progress over the coming weeks. 'We're also working with both the Māori Land Court and Te Tumu Paeroa, where appropriate, to support the ongoing kōrero with owners of whenua Māori.' The Crown's $70 million of funding had been set aside following confirmation of HBRC's cost-sharing agreement with the Government in August 2023 for flood mitigation in the region. HBRC Chair Hinewai Ormsby says: 'Securing the Crown's support and endorsement for the preferred flood mitigation solution Option 1C+ is a significant milestone and an important step forward for the project and for our Wairoa community, with whom we have worked closely to get to this place. It also demonstrates the Government's faith in the process followed to date, and confidence in our ability to deliver a technically viable flood mitigation solution for Wairoa.' Mr Yule agrees, saying: 'Getting to this point in the project is a direct reflection of the huge amount of work that's been done by all involved, and a testament to the way in which the people of Wairoa have come together to progress one of the most significant infrastructure and resilience projects ever delivered in Wairoa. 'With the PDP approved, the project's focus remains on securing the land access required to deliver flood mitigation for Wairoa.' Further cultural assessment activity is also ongoing, to ensure the proposed flood mitigation solution can protect marae and other cultural taonga, including Te Kopua and Waihirere Urupā. 'There is still a significant amount of mahi ahead for us all, and we remain committed to progressing this work at pace, and to continuing to work together to help safeguard the resilience and wellbeing of the community of Wairoa,' Mr Yule says. Notes: Preferred flood mitigation solution Option 1C+ features three components: 1. A1.1km, 190-metre-wide floodway, with stopbanks on either side, in North Clyde. The floodway will temporarily allow excess water to flow through it only when river levels reach a certain height. 2. A secondary stopbank on the southern side of the river, from the SH2 bridge in the Wairoa township, along the river esplanade and toward Mitchell Road. The total length of the stopbank is currently estimated to be around 1.2km. 3. Lifting the floor level of three houses in Frasertown.
