Urgent remediation on Hokitika stopbank: ‘Tomorrow would not be too soon’

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

The Hokitika River stopbank behind Westland Milk Products has been repaired due to the flooding risk after work for a new Westland District Council stormwater outfall.

The work off Town Belt East was completed last week after the West Coast Regional Council asked for urgent remediation.

Regional council acting chairperson Peter Haddock said earlier this month the top of the bank was a worry due to work on the new stormwater outfall, and the river had already come within 400mm of topping the bank at that point in a flood, Haddock said.

The district council had since topped up the stopbank, he said.

"The council have requested the Westland District Council, who put the stormwater pipe through, to raise the level up to the existing level and that has been done."

The top of the wall on the old Kaniere Tram route had been "actually lower than it was originally" after the local stormwater work.

"It was a low spot."

The regional council was also concerned the rockwork installed around the new outfall pipes needed to be of a better standard, he said.

Westland was now looking into that and should be undertaking an improvement soon.

Meanwhile, the regional council meeting today was expected to discuss the wider plan to raise and strengthen the stopbank from the Hokitika Bridge up to the dairy factory.

Volumes and material available were currently being quantified ahead of a tender process.

"It's been given urgency," Haddock said.

In a letter to the Greymouth Star, veteran West Coast farmer Paul Berry has again called for action to ensure the riverbank upstream of the dairy factory is strengthened.

Berry said the issue was noted five months ago.

While the existing 400m of stopbank at the factory was rocked, a further 450m immediately upstream was "totally unprotected" with no rock armouring.

This was made worse by the bank being on an outside curve and was "very concerning".

Berry said he was alarmed to see the debate between the two councils about armouring the new stormwater culvert area.

"It seemed to me another Waiho event not if but when."

But of greater concern was that, as of last week, it could be two-and-a-half months before the existing 400m of stopbank and rock upgrade of dairy factory stopbank was put to tender by the regional council.

"In my opinion the upstream 450m needs immediate attention and protection not months away -- tomorrow would not be too soon," Berry said.