Southland's stop banks are in line for some extra attention this month as part a Resilient River Communities project funded by Environment Southland (ES) and central government.

ES Catchment operations manager Randal Beal said improvements were being made to stop banks in Gore, Mataura, Wyndham and Waihōpai Invercargill. 

“Stop banks are a critical part of Southland’s flood defences, providing a level of security in the face of potentially devastating flooding effects.”

Improvements to the Waimumu stop bank in Mataura began in December (2022) and included tree removal, root raking, rebuilding of some sections of stop bank, stop bank realignment and rock armour placement.

Next week (23 Jan) work will begin on Wyndham's stop banks and see tree removal, root raking, rebuilding some sections of stop bank, stop bank strengthening and extension, a section of new stop bank construction as well as culvert replacements and installations.

Work on Waihōpai stop banks is expected to commence later this month and involve strengthening and a height increase as well as the installation of rip rap rock and rebuilding the cycling track.

Gore stop banks will however have to wait until April, but will see a section of new stop bank construction, stop bank strengthening, and culvert installations.

“Stop banks in urban areas protect homes, businesses and infrastructure, while the rural schemes protect high value production land and property outside the stop banks,” Beal said.

The projects are co-funded by ES and central Government, through Kānoa (the Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) and are part of central government’s 2020 budget, which included $210 million for climate resilience and flood protection projects across New Zealand.