The next stage of Waikato Regional Council’s multi million dollar project to strengthen Piako’s flood protection scheme has just kicked off near Ngatea.
Work costing $1.3 million started this month at the Rawerawe floodgate at the end of River Road, and will continue along the river towards the township.
It is expected to take local contractors Kerepehi Transport Limited until mid-April to raise the height of the stopbank, with crews working up to 12 hours a day, six days a week.
“The existing stopbank is either at or below our desired height, and this top up is going to increase it to 500mm above the design flood level,” said senior engineer, Dan du Toit.
“It means that even when the stopbank naturally sinks over time, Ngatea’s residents will continue to be protected from the risk of flooding.”
This scheme is part of a long term project for the area which started in 2011 with this section undergoing river stability works.
These works were successfully completed this year – two years ahead of schedule – allowing the council to move to the next stage of this project, raising the height of the stopbanks.
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