The final stop on the programme for Minister Jones' visit was at the Dargaville to Te Kopuru stopbank works site which is making great progress.
This project is being delivered by Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust. The existing stopbank between Dargaville and Te Kopuru does not have sufficient height or resilience to provide adequate flood protection. The project is strengthening and raising the height of 9.2 km of the 11.7 km stopbank, including reconstruction of floodgates and associated drainage infrastructure, building on earlier upgrade works completed along 2.5 km of the alignment.
The stopbank protects approximately 1,753 hectares of highly productive land, including cropping, horticulture and market gardening, as well as homes, businesses and a marae. It also safeguards critical infrastructure, including a water intake and pump station for the Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust irrigation scheme, which supports local agricultural and horticultural drought resilience.
Beyond protecting existing land uses, the project enables future investment in higher value agricultural and horticultural activity by reducing flood risk that currently constrains economic development. The stopbank design incorporates allowances for future sea level rise, providing a higher standard of long term protection than previous works.The project is being delivered by Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust and is supported through co investment funding from Kānoa’s Regional Infrastructure Fund and Kaipara District Council.
It represents a significant flood resilience and economic development investment for the Northern Wairoa floodplain.
Photo: L to R Councillor Craig Jepson, Mayor Jonathan Larsen, Tye Jenyns – Director, NEXjen (civil contractor), Hon. Shane Jones, Hon. Murray McCully, Chair TTWT, Kathryn de Bruin, Trustee TTWT
Photo: In Te Kopuru
