Latest news with #WairoaDistrictCouncil
Scoop
6 days ago
- Climate
- Scoop
‘A Safer Approach': New Flood Plan For Wairoa River Bar
An ecological survey of the Wairoa River has helped Hawke's Bay Regional Council devise a new plan for managing the bar. The Intermediate Management Plan, led by HBRC in collaboration with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, outlines a proactive approach to manage flood risks and will improve resilience for the Wairoa community in flood events. The plan includes, when conditions allow, lowering a section of the beach crest between Rangi-houa (Pilot Hill) and the old pier. HBRC said this will be maintained and monitored, and allow water to safely exit during a flood, reducing the need for emergency bar openings and helping to manage risk more effectively. Wairoa Mayor Craig Little says anything that can be done to mitigate the risk of floods is imperative. 'As we near the first anniversary of the June 2024 flooding, I am mindful that we still have many people who have not recovered from the floods, and we will support anything we can to help protect our community,' Little said. The new plan follows a Government review into the June floods over the decision by HBRC not to begin opening the Wairoa River bar earlier, given the information available to it. The review hit out at the council's culture, its communication with Wairoa officials and locals, its tendency to be overly optimistic, and the lack of warning given to those in the firing line of the potential for flooding in June. However, it did not go as far as stating an earlier opening of the bar would have avoided the floods that swamped the lower part of the township. About 127 homes were flooded and hundreds more properties were affected by water tearing through the northern Hawke's Bay town. HBRC says the top priority remains to keep a healthy open mouth in the river at its optimal location, and where there are opportunities, to relocate it from a poor to an ideal location. HBRC Chair Hinewai Ormsby says the plan is a more resilient way of managing the Wairoa River mouth. 'We're grateful for the partnership with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa in delivering this important piece of work.' The plan is a 'living document' that will be reviewed and updated as needed, she said. Crown Manager Lawrence Yule said it was important to have a holistic floodplain management approach for Wairoa, including both short-term and long-term strategies for the river bar. 'This plan marks an important step toward a safer and more consistent approach to managing the Wairoa River mouth. It's also just one piece of the puzzle, and further work to develop a permanent, long-term solution to the bar is ongoing,' Yule said. The Regional Council says the community can expect to see gravel surveying starting soon and diggers working on the bar in the coming weeks.
NZ Herald
28-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
New Wairoa River flood management plan is ‘a safer approach' – Hawke's Bay Regional Council
An ecological survey of the Wairoa River has helped Hawke's Bay Regional Council devise a new plan for managing the bar. The Intermediate Management Plan, led by Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) in collaboration with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, outlines a proactive approach to
Scoop
22-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
New Plan For Wairoa River Mouth Will Improve Resilience For The Wairoa Community
A new plan for managing the Wairoa River Bar is set to improve resilience for the Wairoa community in flood events. The Intermediate Management Plan for the Wairoa Bar, led by Hawke's Bay Regional Council in collaboration with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, outlines a proactive approach to managing flood risks. The top priority remains to keep a healthy open mouth in its optimal location, and where there are opportunities to relocate the mouth from a poor to ideal location – this will be progressed. Also, as conditions allow, it has been agreed to carefully lower a section of the beach crest between Rangi-houa (Pilot Hill) and the old pier. This will be maintained, and monitored, and allow water to safely exit during a flood, reducing the need for emergency bar openings and helping to manage risk more effectively. Hawke's Bay Regional Council Chair Hinewai Ormsby says the plan is a more resilient way of managing the Wairoa River mouth. 'We're grateful for the partnership with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa in delivering this important piece of work.' The plan is a 'living document' that will be reviewed and updated as needed, she says. Wairoa Mayor Craig Little welcomed Regional Council's approach to river mouth management. 'Anything that can be done to mitigate flooding risks is imperative. As we near the first anniversary of the June 2024 flooding, I am mindful that we still have many people who have not recovered from the floods, and we will support anything we can to help protect our community." Crown Manager Lawrence Yule has emphasised the importance of a holistic floodplain management approach for Wairoa, including both short-term and long-term strategies for the river bar. 'This plan marks an important step toward a safer and more consistent approach to managing the Wairoa River mouth. It's also just one piece of the puzzle, and further work to develop a permanent, long-term solution to the bar is ongoing,' Mr Yule says. The Regional Council says leading up to proposed work starting, an ecological survey of the Wairoa Bar was carried out. The community can expect to see gravel surveying starting in the coming days and diggers working on the bar in the coming weeks.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Firefighters extinguish scrub fire at Wairoa landfill
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Firefighters have extinguished a scrub fire that had been burning near Wairoa's landfill since Thursday afternoon. Crews from Wairoa, Gisborne and Mahia were called to the blaze around 4.30pm. Fire and Emergency said the fire was contained on Thursday night, but crews returned on Friday morning to dampen hotspots with the help of a helicopter. It said there was no risk to nearby buildings. A fire investigator is at the scene to determine the cause of the fire. On Friday morning, Wairoa District Council asked people to avoid the area. "Please keep away from the area around the Wairoa Landfill, including the Wairoa Mountain Bike Park on Fraser St and the Clyde Road area near Hillcrest." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Second Council Quits Hawke's Bay Climate Committee
Wairoa District Council has pulled the plug on the Hawke's Bay Climate Action Joint Committee after councillors questioned its value. Napier City Council voted to leave in March with Deputy Mayor Annette Brosnan saying it was an 'ineffective structure with little to show to date for its existence'. That leaves Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Hastings District Council and Central Hawke's Bay District Council. Wairoa District Council mayor Craig Little said it was important Wairoa was recognised as a large catchment of Hawke's Bay and given the same priorities as the rest of the region. 'The HB Regional Climate Change Risk Assessment report predominantly uses data that already existed,' Little said. 'It did not involve a visit to Wairoa, that we are aware of, or discussions with our relevant staff. 'It highlights the fact Hawke's Bay Regional Council has collected very little information on the Wairoa district, eg the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazard Strategy 2120, which doesn't carry on into the Wairoa district, and the fact the Wairoa River was never included in HBRC's 'outstanding water bodies'.' A spokesperson for HBRC said it was important every district felt seen, heard, and accurately represented in regional work like the Climate Change Risk Assessment. 'While the report does rely heavily on existing data, we want to acknowledge the Wairoa District Council staff who were involved in the process, including attending in-person workshops facilitated by Urban Intelligence, and contributing local insights and data. 'We've also had multiple meetings to try to ensure Wairoa-specific information was included. If any parts of the process didn't feel meaningful or inclusive, we want to learn from that. 'The Joint Committee is a collaborative effort, with equal representation from all five councils – including Mayor Little and Councillors Roz Thomas and Denise Eaglesome-Karekare for Wairoa. 'We value their voice and remain committed to working in good faith with all partners to strengthen trust, improve future processes, and ensure every district – including Wairoa – sees itself reflected in this important work.' They said all councils were committed to the Joint Committee until the end of the trimester (October this year). Hastings District Council mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says it has two key focus areas for climate change, adaptation (preparing for the physical impacts of climate change) and mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions). 'Adaptation considerations include a focus on designing and building core infrastructure and ensuring our land use planning and rules support development in areas not subject to significant natural hazards. 'Mitigation includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable transport, energy efficiency and waste reduction. 'These are vital for ensuring the future wellbeing of our people, and whether it's a regional joint committee or some other arrangement will be decided by Hastings' councillors in the next triennium,' Hazlehurst said. Central Hawke's Bay District Council mayor Alex Walker says the region is no stranger to climate change. 'We've experienced the brunt of it and know how vital it is to be resilient, the impacts are real. We experienced two years of sustained drought in 2020 and 2021, the 'wettest year on record' in 2022, followed by Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023,' she said. 'Where and how we live, and work in our district will change, and how we invest in our infrastructure must be responsible and informed. "Our council is kaitiaki of over $1 billion of infrastructure assets and we must ensure every dollar we spend to repair, rebuild or improve is done through a lens of a changing climate. This is why we are part of the collaborative work in the region on climate change."
