Crew from Greater Wellington Regional Council who were working on improving the river resilience of the region made an unexpected find that was sent straight to police.
A sawn-off shotgun was discovered downstream of the Ruamāhanga River near Masterton’s River Rd on a river beach earlier this year.
The firearm “was subsequently located and destroyed” by police, who said there were no further lines of enquiry and the report was filed.
The firearm was found during phase one of the Kanoa-funded Climate Resilience Programme project, which was completed in June.
GWRC environment group manager Lian Butcher said that, during this phase of the project, six 1000-tonne rock groynes [a hydraulic barrier built to limit the movement of sediment] were installed.
“These safeguard the Ruamāhanga River from material in a closed Masterton District Council landfill.”
There was ongoing engagement with GWRC’s mana whenua partners, and Butcher said Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Rangitāne o Wairarapa are co-designing the project’s three phases.
The next phase of the project involves the construction of a 150m rock revetment [an impact-resistant wall] from the confluence of the Ruamāhanga and Waipoua.
Butcher said this is due to start this summer, and the following phase three involves the installation of 11 more groynes.
Ongoing work addressing regional flood and erosion mitigation includes the Waiōhine River Plan, a committee meeting about which is scheduled for the middle of this month.
