Southland Flood Protection Projects Gain Government Funding

Three Southland flood protection projects will benefit from today’s announcement of Government funding for climate resilience projects across the country.

Environment Southland Chairman Nicol Horrell said the Council welcomed the Government’s decision to invest in flood protection and to recognise its enormous importance to the economy and the recovery of communities following extreme weather events.

“The projects that will benefit in Southland are in the Oreti and Aparima catchments and the Te Anau Basin. The Oreti is the largest of the three projects, improving flood protection for Winton.”

For the Southland projects the Government will contribute $3.6 million (60%) – Oreti $3m; Aparima $300,000 and Te Anau $300,000) and Environment Southland will contribute $2.4 million.

Budget 2024 allocated of $101.1 million towards 42 consented priority flood resilience projects across 11 regions, but didn’t specify how they would be funded. In today’s announcement Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said the Government will fund 60 percent of the cost of the projects, with councils co-investing the balance.

“These improvement projects will be funded from our capital works programme and will be able to get underway much sooner to provide Southlanders with increased protection from flood events.

Chairman Horrell said the approval of the projects was in large part a recognition of work the Council had already undertaken. “We’ve proven we are fit partners to work alongside central government on the delivery of flood protection work.”

In 2020 Environment Southland gained co-funding support for climate resilience projects as part of the Government’s Covid economic recovery shovel ready package to regional and unitary councils for climate resilience improvements.

Of the six Southland projects, five have been completed in Gore, Mataura, Wyndham and on the Waihopai and Waiau Rivers, with the Stead Street Pump Station upgrade to protect the airport and surrounding area, due to be commissioned this month.