The final stage of a major flood protection project along the urban section of the Wainui Te Whara Stream channel in Whakatāne is set to begin in early February. The work to deepen and widen the channel will see some 12,500 cubic metres of material removed (equivalent to about 1500 truckloads of soil), increasing its flood flow capacity by some 60 percent to 32 cubic metres per second.

That follows the approval of additional funding by the Whakatāne District Council late last year to cover unbudgeted costs for stage one works and a higher than expected tender cost for the work required to finish the channel upgrading. Following the Council decision, a contract for the work has been let to Waiotahi Contractors for $933,541, an increase of about $190,000 on the engineer’s estimate for the job and more than $440,000 higher than the original budget set in May 2015.

Council Infrastructure General Manager Tomasz Krawczyk says the total cost of the project is now expected to be close to $3.5 million, or about 40 percent higher than the original budget, reflecting both the complexity of the culvert and bridge installation work involved in stage one of the project, and the current pressures on contractor availability.

“This is a key project, because it will greatly reduce the risk of flooding for some 160 properties in the areas bordering the stream channel. Council elected members recognised how important it was that the works proceed in line with both the original project scope and the commitments made to people living in the affected areas,” he says. “The additional funding approved will allow the upgrading to be completed by August this year.”

The additional capital spending is expected to add 3.9 percent to the stormwater targeted rate for the Whakatāne urban area in the 2017/18 year, which equates to a 0.18 percent increase on total rates.

Channel reshaping will commence in the area below the Valley Road bridge and is expected to proceed downstream at a rate of about 15 lineal metres per day. Mr Krawczyk adds that neighbouring property owners are likely to experience some inconvenience as a result of the earthmoving and trucking operations involved. “Council and contractor staff will maintain close contact with the affected neighbours to keep them informed and work out how to minimise any impacts.”