Future Proofing Our Community Joe Carr
I consider that the following region-wide projects are necessary for community wellbeing, route security and improving water quality.
Our roads must be reasonably fit for purpose
Local decision making. I strongly support empowering communities and insist that local communities lead the decision-making process.
Kaitaia Flooding. Further reduction to the risk of flooding in the Awanui catchment must continue. Recent flood management work in the Awanui River has significantly reduced risks, but the flooding of Kaitaia still remains the foremost Civil Defence risk in Northland. The design level of protection for Kaitaia of a 1 in 100 year flood is being regularly exceeded throughout New Zealand. Other work is necessary. An extra span has been added to the Quarry Road bridge across the Whangatane Spillway thanks to the Hon Shane Jones. This needs to be followed by extending Donalds Road bridge. This work must be preceded by channel and stopbank improvements down river to take the extra water, especially below SH10
Awanui Management Phase Two.
The Awanui is a very high energy river system when in flood. During a peak flood if things go wrong, they can go very wrong and destroy defences. While the Awanui River remains a high energy system it will try to carry a lot of silt from bank erosion to the Raungungu Harbour. High energy river schemes have high environmental and financial costs. NRC has, with DoC's support, constructed a sediment deposition and removal zone below SH10 (where the river speed is lowered) as part of channel the clearance and stopbank construction.
Should very heavy rain occur in either two of the three main Awanui catchments or, perish the thought all three catchments, the present system could be overwhelmed.
Future planning to slow the Awanui flow.
I think that if suitable site/s can be identified where a wide low level detention dam and/or possibly a high-level dual storage and detention dam can be constructed, they should be seriously considered. The scheme has reduced the Awanui's spill-overs across SH1 near Lamers Road. A controlled system under SH1 near Lamers road could allow the peak of an outlier Awanui flood (that would overwhelm the defenses through Kaitaia) to be relieved.
ROADING
Route Security. I'm pleased to report that NZTA sees value in preventative work on the unstable areas of the State Highway system. NZTA are supporting NRC's Northland roading route resilience report that will inform a future work program.
Obvious places that are effected by prolonged flooding on:
SH1 between Whangarei and the Far North are Whakapara, Kawakawa, Rangiahua, Mangamuka flats and south of Kaitaia, and on SH10 particularly at Waipapa, Kaeo through Pupuke to Totara North, and on SH11 around Tirohanga.
Hokianga. SH12 Taheke Bridge Taheke Bridge was planned for replacement in 1983/84. Raising the section of SH12 between Taheke bridge and Puha road enables a secure route from the Midnorth via the Rawene ferry to Kaitaia.
Kerikeri River Flood Management. The Kerikeri River previous flood path through the Waipapa commercial area has been restricted by development. This will increase the flooding of SH10 and properties between the Stone Store and SH10. More at risk are rural homes and houses in Waitotara Drive and the Rainbow Falls areas and houses above SH10. The national icon, the Kerikeri Stone Store, is perched on the stream bank at the river's mouth. In floods a lot of river bank sediment ends up in the Kerikeri Inlet that significantly impedes navigation and affects water quality. It is time to tackle the construction of a flood detention dam in the Kerikeri headwaters.
The NRC feasibility study by Riley Consulting, that I promoted as chair of the Kerikeri/Waipapa River Management Committee, found that a 25 m high 300m crest width detention dam is viable. Work is ongoing to determine the best options.
Infrastructure engineering consultant Fred Terry has kindly offered to help people interpret the Upper Waitangi River Detention Dam Feasibility Study. Fred has a great depth of infrastructure knowledge.
KAWAKAWA
Taumarere River System. SH1 Kawakawa flooding is a pain in the butt for all Far North District residents and visitors. National exposure of the inability to get to the District's tourist destinations significantly deters visitors for some time after each flood event.
It's about time we sorted it out.
A comprehensive suite of survey data exists. NZTA have worked up a number of options that need to have the dust shaken off.
Northland Roading.
The Far North District roads work much harder for the national interest than most other district's roads. Yet, north of Whangarei, we have arguably some of the worst roads in the country. Much SH1 north of Whangarei is not fit for purpose.
The Regional Transport Committee (RTC) for Northland has thrashed this out and is pleased with NZTA's financial support of the FNDC's back to basics roading program and better State Highway maintenance. The RTC is in the process of developing a route security improvement plan for Northland with NZTA's support.
I consider that the government review of regional councils should be taken positively. Much of the work that I have been involved in would not have happened without the function and scale of a regional body. Yet with roading, the centering of administration (NTA) at Whangarei only worked passably well for Whangarei.
Please contact me
Joe Carr 027 6015448 joe.kate.carr@gmail.com
Fred Terry 021 4198180 fredanddulcieterry@kinect.co.nz