Debris Flow and Landslide Hazards

Whakatāne, Ōhope and Matatā Escarpments

Update - 12 December 2018

Awatarariki Managed Retreat

The report provides an update on discussions between Whakatāne District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Central Government on a managed retreat programme to address the high level of risk to life of the Awatarariki Fanhead in Matatā. Changes to the Council's Awatarariki Fanhead Acquisition Strategy for properties after 21 January 2013 are also outlined. 

• Council Update December 2018 - (PDF, 777 KB)
• Acquisition Strategy December 2018 - (PDF, 491 KB)
• TPG Report Methodology October 2016 - (PDF, 672 KB)
• TPG Report Base Value for Recent Sales Awatarariki - (PDF, 801 KB)

Update - 22 December 2017

Awatarariki Plan Changes Initiated
The Whakatāne District Council has initiated a change to its District Plan and submitted its Private Plan Change Request to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to address the high level of risk to life on part of the Awatarariki Fanhead in Matatā. The Whakatāne District Council has requested that the Bay of Plenty Regional Council adopt the Plan Change, and it is expected that Bay of Plenty Regional Council will consider this at their 15 February Full Council meeting.

Section 32 Final with all Appendices - (PDF, 11 MB)

Update - 31 August 2017

Awatarariki Debris Flow Risk Management: Project Update - (PDF, 205 KB) - The purpose of this report was to present the Indicative Business Case associated with the Awatarariki Fanhead retreat package to the Projects and Services Committee.

Indicative Business Case - Debris Flow Risk: A way forward for the Awatarariki Fanhead - (PDF, 5.3 MB) - This Indicative Business Case outlines options for investing in a managed intervention to prevent a predictable disaster.

Update - 15 December 2016

Report on Draft Indicative Business Case - Debris Flow Risk: A way forward for the Awatarariki Fanhead - (PDF, 440 KB) - The purpose of this report was to update Council on the Draft Indicative Business Case.

Update - November 2016

Further reports on the mitigation of debris flow risks in the Awatarariki fanhead in Matatā are available below. 

• Mitigation of debris flow risk - Awatarariki fanhead Matatā - Update Report to Council - 10 November 2016 - (PDF, 176 KB)
• TPG Base Value Methodology - (PDF, 673 KB)

Update - August 2016

Further reports on the mitigation of debris flow risks in the Awatarariki fanhead in Matatā are available below. A media release provides additional context.

• Mitigation of debris flow risk - Awatarariki fanhead, Matatā - update - (PDF, 968 KB)
• Awatarariki Acquisition Strategy - (PDF, 661 KB)

Update - March 2016

Further reports on the debris flow risks in Matatā are available below. View the media release regarding this update for additional context.

• Awatarariki debris flow fan risk to life and retreat zone extent - Peer Review - (PDF, 677 KB)
• Awatarariki Fanhead Update - Policy Committee, 8 October 2015 - (PDF, 195 KB)
• Matatā Early Warning System work stream - (PDF, 105 KB)
• Escape Routes Report - (PDF, 1.7 MB)
• Right Turning Bay into Kaokaoroa Street - (PDF, 764 KB)

Update - July 2015

A final version of the risk assessment and a report to the Policy Committee are available for download below.

Supplementary Risk Assessment - Debris Flow Hazard - Matatā - (PDF, 7.2 MB)

Policy Committee Report - 2 July 2015 - (PDF, 609 KB)

Update - December 2013

A report on the options for managing debris flow hazard affecting properties in Matatā’s Awatararariki Stream fanhead was received by the Whakatāne District Council’s Policy Committee on Wednesday, 11 December. The report sets out the findings of a draft risk assessment by engineering consultant Tonkin and Taylor Ltd and proposes three possible approaches to managing the risk debris flows pose.

The Council agreed to receive the reports to enable consultation with all affected landowners to be undertaken early in the New Year. Affected owners will be offered one-on-one briefings as part of a consultation process designed to let the Council know how the community wishes to proceed.

• Awatarariki fanhead strategy - (PDF, 134 KB)

Background

Since 2005, the Whakatāne District has experienced a series of high rainfall weather events triggering a number of landslides and debris flows.  This has resulted in devastation and damage to a number of homes, severe injury and even fatality.

In view of the history, the Whakatāne District Council (the Council) commissioned Tonkin & Taylor (T&T) to undertake a Quantitative Landslide Risk Assessment (QLRA) study for Whakatāne and Ōhope, assessing the level of risk posed by future landslide events. Boffa Miskell Limited, environmental consultants, was engaged to help develop an effective approach to managing the risks those events pose to lives and property. 

In late 2012, the Council accepted expert advice that no feasible engineering solution to mitgate against debris flows from the Awatarariki Stream Catchment. In light of the work underway to assess Whakatāne and Ōhope escarpment landslide hazards, T&T were again commissioned to undertake a QLRA assessment of the Matatā escarpment.  The Council intends to use the study findings provided to develop an understanding of landslide and debris flow hazards and the risks that future events pose to residents and potential future developments. The Matatā study area stretches from the western end of the Awatarariki Stream debris fan to 71 Manawahe Road in the east and Arawa Street in the north.

• Quantitative Landslide Risk Assessment - Whakatāne and Ōhope Escarpment - (PDF, 6 MB)
• Managing Landslide Hazards from the Whakatāne and Ōhope Escarpment Summary- (PDF, 1 MB)
• Quantitative Landslide Risk Assessment - Matatā Escarpment- (PDF, 9 MB)
• Managing Debris Flow and Landslide Hazards from the Matatā Escarpment Summary - (PDF, 694 KB)
• Landslide and Debris Flow Hazard Management - Issues and Options - (PDF, 7 MB)

Below you may access a map with layers outlining the areas under discussion. You may also download PDF versions of the maps below.

Whakatāne, Ōhope and Matatā Escarpments

Update - August 2016

Further reports on the mitigation of debris flow risks in the Awatarariki fanhead in Matatā are available below. A media release provides additional context.

• Mitigation of debris flow risk - Awatarariki fanhead, Matatā - update - (PDF, 968 KB)
• Awatarariki Acquisition Strategy - (PDF, 661 KB)

Update - March 2016

Further reports on the debris flow risks in Matatā are available below. View the media release regarding this update for additional context.

• Awatarariki debris flow fan risk to life and retreat zone extent - Peer Review - (PDF, 677 KB)
• Awatarariki Fanhead Update - Policy Committee, 8 October 2015 - (PDF, 195 KB)
• Matatā Early Warning System work stream - (PDF, 105 KB)
• Escape Routes Report - (PDF, 1.7 MB)
• Right Turning Bay into Kaokaoroa Street - (PDF, 764 KB)

Update - July 2015

A final version of the risk assessment and a report to the Policy Committee are available for download below.

Supplementary Risk Assessment - Debris Flow Hazard - Matatā - (PDF, 7.2 MB)

Policy Committee Report - 2 July 2015 - (PDF, 609 KB)

Update - December 2013

A report on the options for managing debris flow hazard affecting properties in Matatā’s Awatararariki Stream fanhead was received by the Whakatāne District Council’s Policy Committee on Wednesday, 11 December. The report sets out the findings of a draft risk assessment by engineering consultant Tonkin and Taylor Ltd and proposes three possible approaches to managing the risk debris flows pose.

The Council agreed to receive the reports to enable consultation with all affected landowners to be undertaken early in the New Year. Affected owners will be offered one-on-one briefings as part of a consultation process designed to let the Council know how the community wishes to proceed.

• Awatarariki fanhead strategy - (PDF, 134 KB)

Background

Since 2005, the Whakatāne District has experienced a series of high rainfall weather events triggering a number of landslides and debris flows.  This has resulted in devastation and damage to a number of homes, severe injury and even fatality.

In view of the history, the Whakatāne District Council (the Council) commissioned Tonkin & Taylor (T&T) to undertake a Quantitative Landslide Risk Assessment (QLRA) study for Whakatāne and Ōhope, assessing the level of risk posed by future landslide events. Boffa Miskell Limited, environmental consultants, was engaged to help develop an effective approach to managing the risks those events pose to lives and property. 

In late 2012, the Council accepted expert advice that no feasible engineering solution to mitgate against debris flows from the Awatarariki Stream Catchment. In light of the work underway to assess Whakatāne and Ōhope escarpment landslide hazards, T&T were again commissioned to undertake a QLRA assessment of the Matatā escarpment.  The Council intends to use the study findings provided to develop an understanding of landslide and debris flow hazards and the risks that future events pose to residents and potential future developments. The Matatā study area stretches from the western end of the Awatarariki Stream debris fan to 71 Manawahe Road in the east and Arawa Street in the north.

• Quantitative Landslide Risk Assessment - Whakatāne and Ōhope Escarpment - (PDF, 6 MB)
• Managing Landslide Hazards from the Whakatāne and Ōhope Escarpment Summary- (PDF, 1 MB)
• Quantitative Landslide Risk Assessment - Matatā Escarpment- (PDF, 9 MB)
• Managing Debris Flow and Landslide Hazards from the Matatā Escarpment Summary - (PDF, 694 KB)
• Landslide and Debris Flow Hazard Management - Issues and Options - (PDF, 7 MB)

Below you may access a map with layers outlining the areas under discussion. You may also download PDF versions of the maps below.