Read the February 2023 update HERE.

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Further to our update report in August this year (which you can find here), we wanted to give you another short update to inform you of the current progress so far. The Councils are jointly working on the implementation of the preferred engineering option to protect the community from future flood events, including an overflow channel to the south of the Ngongotahā stream combined with stopbanks, high flow bypasses, and raising part of Western Road.

This location of the proposed overflow channel impacts on privately owned land and council staff and the Community Reference Group have been working with those parties.

On 30 November, a Community Reference Group meeting was held to hear from the owners of one of those parcels of land about the proposal impacts on them and to find a way forward. That meeting was positive and the parties have agreed to next steps to find a way through the significant challenges this proposal presents to that landowner. Archaeological, survey and other work associated with the engineering solution also continues. The parties remain confident a solution can be found.

We intend to stage the works and commence stage 1 (including the bypass and raising existing stop banks) next year, 2022. This will allow us to construct some components while negotiations for stage 2 (including Western Road, new stopbanks, and the overflow channel) continue.

Once landowner approval is obtained for the overflow channel detailed design, resource consenting, archaeological approvals, procurement and tender of stage 2 can commence. We estimate these steps will take approximately 12 months to complete and following that construction of stage 2 is expected to require two earthworks seasons to complete.

We will be in touch with another update on how the project is progressing in the first half of 2022.

If you have any questions please contact helen.creagh@boprc.govt.nz

Tēnā koutou katoa

We are pleased to provide this August 2021 update on the work of Toi Moana – Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Rotorua Lakes Council which outlines work completed since our last update (December 2020) on the Ngongotahā Review Action Plan.

Significant progress has been made this year, in particular:

• Funding allocated in Long Term Plans of both Councils for ongoing implementation of Stream Maintenance Plan. and Rotorua Lakes Council for for investment into stormwater management.
• Continued removal of problematic trees, armouring of key erosion sites and maintenance of various spillways along the stream.
• The preferred engineering options has been determined as an overflow channel to the south of the stream combinedwith stopbanks, high flow bypasses, and raising part of Western Road

• Construction of further detainment bunds in the upper catchment.
  

A copy of the full report can be found here

Tēnā koutou katoa

It has been two years since the independent review panel released its report in relation to the Ngongotahā Flood Event of 29 April 2018. This report summarises the work carried out in 2020 in relation to Ngongotahā Flood Review Action Plan.

Significant progress has been made this year, in particular:

• Shortlisting of potential flood mitigation options.
• Continued removal of problematic trees from the upper catchment down to the Brookdale Drive area.
• Construction of detainment bunds in the upper catchment.
• Completion of the Paradise Valley Community Response Plan.

Most significantly, $3.7 million of central government funding was secured to progress the detainment bunds, tree removal and engineering options.

A copy of the full report can be found here

The funding announced by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau comes from the $210 million for shovel-ready climate resilience and flood protection projects being delivered through a $3 billion tagged contingency in Budget 2020.

Regional Council chair Doug Leeder says the announcement is great news for the Bay of Plenty, accelerating six major projects that will secure over 130 full-time equivalent positions with local contractors engaged mostly with earthworks and associated culvert, piping, construction, and site and pasture restoration. In addition this stimulus will provide downstream economic and social benefits.

“The projects are located across the rohe and will complete or upgrade infrastructure that addresses specific flood risks in the Western Bay, Rotorua, Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki districts.

COVID-19 Recovery has provided an unprecedented opportunity to work in partnership with central government to accelerate projects that have far-reaching benefits for our region. Projects that simultaneously create jobs and allow us to deliver our core outcomes, in this case, supporting safe and resilient communities,” Mr Leeder says.

The projects:

• Rangitāiki River Community Resilience and flood protection – completion of the Rangitāiki Floodway
• Implementing Ngongotahā Stream Independent Review – civil works; at-risk tree removal
• Rangitāiki floodwalls resilience
• Kaituna Mole upgrade
• Whakatāne town centre flood defence upgrade
• Waioeka Estuary concept

Reflecting on 2019

A new project report has been released, which provides a snap shot of work carried out over the last year associated with the Ngongotahā Action Plan. This report can be accessed here:
Ngongotahā Action Plan: A year in review (Jan - Dec 2019)

A large number of actions have been achieved and/or are ongoing (in green to the right). A number of actions are still in progress, although running behind schedule (in red to the right). These actions, discussed further overleaf, relate to:

Analysis of flood mitigation options and associated engagement with the Ngongotahā Community. Completion of the stream maintenance plan. Establishment of the working group for the Ngongotahā Community Response Plan. Review of the District Plan. Construction of detainment bunds in the upper catchment. Achievements for 2019 include the: Completion of priority stream repairs from the April 2018 flood and removal of 30 large and at-risk trees from the upper catchment. Establishment of the Ngongotahā Community Reference Group (CRG) to guide the dual-Council project team, particularly in relation to potential flood mitigation options and community engagement. Successful operation of dual-Council teams, particularly in relation to RMA planning; engineering options as well as communication and engagement. Completion of a number of actions which have resulted in improved internal processes and working relationship between the two Councils.

The Ngongotahā Flood Review project aims to reduce the risk and impact of future storm events in Ngongotahā. This flyer provides an update on some of the recent work we've completed, particularly in relation to upcoming stream maintenance works and the assessment of potential flood mitigation options. It's been a busy few months since our last update in September and we'll provide another update on progress in February next year.

STREAM BANK REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE
In the past two months, preparations and planning for summer maintenance works have been finalised and development has continued on the longer-term maintenance plan. To minimise risk and avoid future damage, a number of large trees were removed in the upper catchment area.

A lot of work was completed last summer and, as we move into Summer 2019 / 2020 that will continue including activity near the A&P Showgrounds and further large tree removal, vegetation management, fencing, tree planting and fish habitat restoration.

Over summer, existing spillways (pathways that carry away surplus water) will be enhanced by contouring, weed control, and placing rockwork to strengthen inlets and outlets.

CIVIL DEFENCE AND READINESS PLANNING AND CONSENTS
We've completed the Emergency Evacuation Plan for the Ngongotahā catchment. A working group has been established for the Paradise Valley Community Response Plan and potential members have been identified for the working group to develop the Ngongotahā Village Community Response Plan.

A workshop will be held regarding the Ngongotahā Village Community Response Plan with the goal to complete the Community Response Plans for the Ngongotahā and Paradise Valley communities in 2020. We'll let people know the dates for these workshops once confirmed.

PLANNING AND CONSENTS
Scoping is still underway regarding the District Plan review with additional risk assessments required by BOPRC to satisfy Regional Policy Statement requirements. Over the coming months RLC and BOPRC will work together to develop and review current urban flood hazard catchment models with a view to using this to develop flood risk assessments for these catchments to, in turn, inform a review of the District Plan.

FLOOD MITIGATION OPTIONS
An initial ‘high-level list’ of options was assessed using a 12-point criteria, which considered features including hydrology, water quality, ecology, land ownership, cultural aspects and likely costs. Six options were selected in conjunction with the Community Reference Group in August.

We are seeking flood mitigation options that will:

• Accommodate a possible 'one in one hundred' year event (1% AEP = a 1 percent Annual Excedence Probability, i.e. a 1 in 100 chance that a river will experience a flood of that size in any given year).
• Maintain the Ngongotahā Stream's environmental and recreational values.
• Allow for climate change.
• Take an adaptive approach i.e. options that can be enhanced in the future
  

The three upper-catchment (Above State Highway 5) options are being worked through by Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Rotorua-based Land Management team. These options involve conversations with landowners about creating detention bunds which hold and slow stormwater; protecting areas vulnerable to erosion; and exploring land-use changes.

Meanwhile, the lower-catchment (Below State Highway 5) options are being modelled and the three options are as follows:

• Raising Western Road - This option looks at raising a section of Western Road either side of the intersection with Brake Road. The heightened road level would act as a flood defence.
• Overland flow path - This option looks at creating a flow path to the south of the stream to convey water in times of flood, diverting it away from residential areas.
• High flow bypasses - This option would enhance existing bypasses and look to create others at sections of the stream where water naturally ponds in times of high flow.
  

The Ngongotahā Flood Review (NFR) project is aimed at reducing the risk and impact of future storm events in Ngongotahā. The Ngonogtahā Action Plan was developed by the Rotorua Lakes Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, the Community Reference Group and the wider community to achieve the project objectives.

The NFR project is split into five work streams. Each one has objectives based on recommendations made by the Independent Flood Review Panel. Here’s a snapshot of what’s been completed since our last update in July.

Stream repairs and maintenance

• A detailed work programme has been developed for the next 12 months that includes general vegetation maintenance and planting, repairs to erosion sites, maintenance to overflow paths. A stream maintenance plan is also being prepared to include scheduling for inspections and maintenance standards.
• A community planting day was held on August 24 with one thousand grasses and sedges planted along the Ngongotahā Stream.

Engineering, modelling and options

• The list of flood mitigation options has been reduced from 12 to 6. Modelling will soon commence to find out whether these options (by themselves or combined) will be effective.

Civil defence and readiness

• A Community Response Plan is in development for Paradise Valley. The focus has been on bringing residents together to form a working group for initial development of a plan.
• On-going discussions are being had with various groups and individuals within Ngongotahā to encourage participation in developing a plan for Ngongotahā community.
• A recent survey highlighted that just over half of those surveyed in affected areas in Ngongotahā and Paradise Valley did not have a family emergency plan or emergency kit prepared.
• The Ngongotahā Stream Emergency Resilience and Evacuation Plan is available for consultation by the community.

RMA planning and consents

• We’ve reviewed the Engineering Code of Practice. Council is intending to adopt and adapt Waikato Regional Council’s Regional Infrastructure Technical Specifications (RITS).
• Scoping is underway to review Council's 'rule book' (District Plan) to identify potential improvements regarding development near flood-risk areas.

Upper catchment considerations

• A drone survey was completed for the Taurangamiromiro Stream from Relph Road to the Lion Park.
• Water quality monitoring has commenced at 9 sites and on-going monitoring will occur monthly over the next 12 months.
• Large tree removal at Taurangamiromiro Stream to commence in October.
• Future work – further surveillance and maintenance planning of the stream from the Lion Park down to SH5.
• Continuing to work with landowners interested in land use change and riparian protection

Clarification of roles and responsibilities

• BOPRC and RLC signed an MOU in July clarifying their respective roles and responsibilities relating to the maintenance of Ngongotahā Stream.
• Next steps involve building awareness of frontline staff.

Connecting the Ngongotahā Community

• Meetings have been held with local community groups to share what we've been doing.
• Two planting days were held on the 2nd & 24th of August

As part of this project a Community Reference Group has been formed to assist both councils to collaborate and effectively connect with the affected community and iwi, and to ultimately ensure that any action plan options chosen, are balanced, practical, affordable, deliver the risk reduction that the local people need and don't create new issues or flooding

The Community Reference Group will perform and support the following:

• Filter/narrow down the flood reduction/mitigation options that are realistic, pragmatic, appropriate and acceptable to the Ngongotahā catchment community
• Assist interpreting and communicating flood modelling and mitigation options so they are understandable to the wider public
• Being a conduit for BOPRC & RLC to connect with the wider community
• Assisting in engagement with the wider community on the proposed programme of works and help in seeking wider community input

More information on the Community Reference Group and the role here.