Whirinaki Whirinaki

About the Whirinaki project

This work ensures that 46 Category 2C properties move to Category 1. Potential solution includes stopbanking, drainage, and stream works. Read about our other projects here.

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Latest update - September 2024

We have now completed the removal of woody debris from the Esk River. We removed 635 tonnes, including a small amount of native timber. We have offered the native wood to Petane Marae for carving if it is suitable, and the remaining debris has been burnt or repurposed as firewood.

We are continuing to review technical information from the urupā geophysical assessments and the flood effect imagery. These geophysical assessments provide detail of the properties and features of land and identify areas of cultural significance. The flood effect imagery looks at how the flood resilience solution (stopbank) will perform in different flood events. Both are used to refine the concept designs. Once our archaeologist and design team have reviewed the findings, our project team will collaborate with Petane Marae to capture local whakapapa and kōrero of the area.

Over the next month, we will progress from concept to preliminary design and work toward gaining the necessary consents.