New Zealand's regional councils have voiced their dissatisfaction with the central government's approach to flood mitigation efforts.
These councils, in near unanimity, have been advocating for significant government investment in flood defences.
Their plea comes in the wake of the decision to delegate the matter back to bureaucratic discussions, which they argue stalls immediate action needed to safeguard communities from the devastating impacts of events similar to Cyclone Gabrielle – which led to insured losses of $2.02 billion.
According to RNZ's report, leaders from the majority of New Zealand's regional and unitary councils, alongside an ensemble of 29 mayors representing various local governments, have presented a revised version of a flood protection proposal to the current administration.
This proposal, initially put forth to the previous government, seeks a partnership in funding to modernise the nation's flood defence infrastructure. The urgency of this request is underscored by the fact that the existing flood protection assets, inherited from the central government in the 1980s, are now outdated and inadequate to cope with the rising incidence of severe weather conditions.
The councils cautioned that without substantial upgrades, the financial strain on local residents, already contending with significant rate hikes, will become untenable.
To'osavili Nigel Bickle, chief executive of Hastings District Council and a prominent figure in the region's real estate sector, shared a testimony at an Insurance Council conference.
“In our community, eight people lost their lives, we lost 25% of our productive economy, billions of dollars' worth of road and three water infrastructures – and ultimately, 163 homeowners were put into a category that says you shouldn't really live in your home anymore,” he said, as reported by RNZ.
This sentiment reflects a consensus among council leaders regarding the imperative to bolster defences against flooding to protect lives, economic interests, and critical infrastructure.
The councils are advocating for the national government to earmark budgetary allocations for a robust flood defence project.
The proposal details a plan to refurbish and enhance 80 stopbanks, improve pumping facilities, and upgrade river monitoring systems, with a proposed federal investment of around $200 million. This funding model also includes a 40% cost share from the councils themselves.
Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor pointed to the success of recent flood mitigation projects in her region as evidence of the effectiveness of such investments.
“We were really lucky that we got funding to build three large rock groynes, these are essentially large breakwaters out into the Wairau River. The first one was finished just a matter of weeks before our 2021 flood, and we know that it actually saved part of our stopbank network, and therefore it saved parts of the town of Renwick, and Blenheim,” she said, as reported by RNZ.
As the dialogue between local and central government unfolds, the focus remains on the need for proactive investment in flood defences as opposed to the reactive, and often more costly, measures following disaster events.
