Work is “progressing well” on a flood defence project for a section of the Ruamāhanga River along River Rd where a sewer line, Wai Rua Junction, and three properties are at risk of erosion.
Rock groyne [rock boulders] and a 150 metre revetment wall [rock wall] are being built in the river as a preventative measure to protect against erosion, and it’s expected this work will run through till July 31 of this year.
Greater Wellington Regional Council director of delivery Jack Mace said that the works are currently running to schedule.
“Stage two of the project began in late April with the construction of the rock groyne and the rock revetment at River Rd,” he said.
“We are working with more than 2000 tonnes of rip rap rock on site and will begin excavation and rock placement for rock groyne within the Waipoua River this week.”
The Waipoua River connects to the Raumāhanga River.
In August 2020, $11 million of government funding was announced as part of the government’s post covid-19 infrastructure fund, designated for parts of Wairarapa and Lower Hutt to tackle flood resilience, although it wasn’t until April this year that work began on the site.
Mace previously told the Times-Age that this work follows on from erosion work that was already completed downstream.
“We know how devastating flooding and erosion can be to the land, livestock and homes,” he said.
“Rivers wind their way through public and private land, so we work with communities and land owners in places like the Ruamāhanga River to manage the risks and impacts of flooding and erosion.”
