Patterson: Rural NZ Faces a "Massive" Infrastructure Deficit
The Minister for Rural Communities, Mark Patterson, says there's a massive infrastructure deficit in rural areas.
The Rangitaiki floodway was opened by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson on Saturday, following 12 years of work.
The project was a six-stage project designed to take pressure off the flood-prone Ranigtaiki River stopbanks by diverting some of its flow during significant weather events.
The final stage included increasing the capacity of the floodway and the construction of an additional spillway to manage the water flows entering the floodway from the Rangitaiki River above Edgecumbe.
In August 2024, the Government committed $200m from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to flood resilience across New Zealand. The $50 million floodway was co-funded, with $14 million in government funding, and the balance of the project was funded by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and local community.
Patterson says the project is one of the largest flood resilience projects completed in New Zealand in recent times.
"It will bring much needed flood protection for communities and will enable economic development opportunities in the Eastern Bay of Plenty," he says.
"We only need to think back to the 2017 Edgecumbe floods to realise how critically important this project is to the region," he says.
The floods saw water pour into the area after the Rangitaiki River burst its banks, causing millions of dollars in damage, displacing people, and disrupting the lives of many in the region for a considerable amount of time, says Patterson.
He says that upgrading the spillway and installing new floodgates will allow the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to safely manage and control the release of flood waters.
"Projects like the Rangitāiki Floodway upgrade represent core, resilient infrastructure, crucial to the economic, social, cultural, and environmental wellbeing of our country," Patterson adds. "They help to protect lives and reduce the toll these events can have on communities, businesses, and infrastructure."
"This project has been a testament to the partnership between central and local government, Rangitāiki River communities, and local Iwi and industry to support community resilience and economic growth in the Eastern Bay. I look forward to seeing this newly protected land being utilised for future growth opportunities that benefit the local economy," he concludes.
