Cyclone Gabrielle: West Coast faces flood protection uncertainty

An aerial view of the eastern end of Westport during the July 2021 flood. Photo: Supplied / Defence Force

Funding for both the Westport flood protection case and the Waiho (Waiau) River scheme will now be under threat as the government grapples with the North Island cyclone, according to the chief executive of the West Coast Regional Council.

Yesterday, West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor said he believed both packages were still on track, regardless of Cyclone Gabrielle.

However, chief executive Heather Mabin said given the scale of the cyclone disaster, and the government needing to reprioritise spending, "there's no doubt ... we're under threat everywhere".

"I think all government agencies across all walks will be looking at what they can spend, whether it is a government agency or council, Mabin said.

"I would have a question mark what will be allocated for Westport. Stage one and two at Waiho also comes to mind.

"We can't forget that Westport people have also been through their own incredible situation."

West Coast Regional Council chief executive Heather Mabin. Photo: Greymouth Star / Brendon McMahon

However, it was unclear what might happen to previously allocated government funding for the Westport and Waiho schemes that had not yet started.

The first stage of the $24 million Waiho scheme had been to Cabinet and half of that released to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for allocation to the council.

"We had been absolutely assured it was ring-fenced, prior to [Cyclone Gabrielle]."

But the Westport business case had not even made its way through Cabinet yet.

An aerial view of the Waiho Flat farming district, with the Waiho River encroaching on prime farmland. Photo: Greymouth Star / Brendon McMahon

She was unclear how the already allocated money for Waiho might now be "clawed back" by the government.

"There is a process and we don't know where we sit in the pecking order. Stage two of the Waiho [scheme] has been waiting since April 2021, and you could say, the need for protection for Westport since July 2021."

This was because the Westport co-funded business case - which the government had asked for and regarded as a pilot for other schemes - had involved a multi-government agency approach.

Work on that $54.4m co-funded proposal to build a ring of floodwalls around Westport township, meant the regional council's own $10.2m flood solution for Westport had been put on hold.

The State Highway 6 turnoff to Waiho Flat. The main road would need to be moved if the government decides to abandon the south side farming area and remove the current stopbanks as a solution. Photo: Greymouth Star / Brendon McMahon

"The business case made it much more cumbersome and therefore much harder to deliver.

"However, once the other agencies were involved and there was application for co-funding, that held us back."

Regardless, the council had just set up a project team based on the council's own $10.2m flood protection project, to approve a work programme regardless of the co-funded business case, in order to be able to hit the ground running with something at least, she said.

"We are moving forward for Westport."

However, it was a different story for the south bank of the Waiho River, at Franz Josef.

"There is nothing we can do. Neither the council nor the rating district can afford the required infrastructure."

Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air