Regional Council notes

The recent heavy rains have seen parts of Wairarapa become very wet indeed.  After a relatively long spell with little flooding, the high rivers reminded us of just how devastating mother nature can be.  The thing is though, is that the flooding we experienced was actually at the low end of the scale, being between a one-in-five or a one-in-ten-year event.  Those who have lived in Wairarapa long enough know that we have seen far, far worse.

That is however little consolation for someone who has lost a chunk of land to the river or had water flowing through their house.

Now any flood we have that causes damage also causes a heightened awareness of what else could go wrong for us that maybe hasn’t yet.  We have seen old rubbish tips being eroded in the South Island, sewerage flowing into a school in Porirua and recently an urupa being undermined Anaura Bay.  

Any of these things could happen here and typically after a flood, people call on their local council to make our district flood proof.  The local councils then usually point in the direction of Greater Wellington Regional Council believing that this is our responsibility.  The belief that GWRC is responsible for the maintenance of all streams and rivers in preventing flood damage is not correct. 

What is correct is that the main rivers in Wairarapa have flood management schemes that are paid for by a flood management rate and work is carried out on these rivers in consultation with land owners and other affected parties.  This work includes stop bank maintenance where they exist, riparian planting and gravel removal.  The work is covered by strict Resource Consent conditions.

When you look at a map though and see the myriad of streams and rivers that cross Wairarapa, the vast amount have no specified flood management.  The responsibility for their maintenance lies with the land owner.  This can come as a bit of a shock to someone who has bought a lifestyle block with a stream running through it, expecting GW to come in and clean up after a heavy downpour.

For the most part though, GW works with land owners to identify the best way they can manage the water ways both for flood protection and environmental gains.  If recent rains are anything to go by however, Mother Nature is a long way from being tamed and adaptation may be the only option.

Adrienne Staples