The Whakatāne District Council’s Policy Committee has adopted a series of recommendations which aim to find ways to address the risk that future debris flow events pose for anyone living in the Awatarariki Stream fanhead area at Matatā.

The area was devastated by a debris flow from the stream in 2005, which destroyed road and rail links and houses. At the time, the area contained 18 houses. Currently there are 13 houses, including four which were rebuilt post-2005. The initial disaster recovery plan envisaged the construction of a debris retention structure in the stream gorge, but by 2012 it was determined that there was no viable engineering solution, and the Council decided to pursue planning solutions, including information provision, rezoning and potential ‘retreat’ from the hazard area.

Reporting to the Committee, the Council’s Manager Strategic Projects, Jeff Farrell, said the loss-of-life risk meant ‘doing nothing’ was not an option. To identify possible ways forward, a Consensus Development Group including five Awatarariki property owners was formed to consider all options.

“While there is no single solution acceptable to all owners, the Consensus Development Group did identify a voluntary managed retreat option as a possible way forward,” Mr Farrell said. “Any property purchase proposal needs to be attractive to owners, and for homeowners with existing use rights, a higher level of payment may be required to encourage them to relinquish those rights and relocate from the high-risk zone.”

The Committee adopted recommendations to undertake further work which will allow the Council to make an informed decision on an acceptable way forward before the end of 2015. Actions to be taken include:

• Confirmation of the risk rationale and location of hazard lines at a property boundary level
• Current property valuations to be assessed, recognising all regulatory restraints and future risks
• An investigation of escape routes, early warning systems and rates relief to be undertaken
• Initial approaches to be made to central Government and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council with regard to funding contributions to a voluntary managed retreat process

The Committee also agreed to bring forward a total of $170,000 of funding budgeted for the 2016/17 and 2017/18 years to fund the ongoing work.