Parts of Whirinaki went underwater during Cyclone Gabrielle and homes on Pohutakawa Drive were badly flooded. Photo: Supplied
A new plan to protect Hawke's Bay residents whose homes were flooded in Cyclone Gabrielle has been met with relief and hope.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) has secured funding for the $23 million Whirinaki flood mitigation project, which puts Whirinaki residents a step closer to moving from Category 2C to Category 1 status.
After a change in design, that has reduced the project by about $11m, Central Government has agreed to fork out $9m and HBRC is funding $3m.
The area was one of many where homes were flooded and lives ruined, and had been put in Category 2C, which meant it could only be moved down a categorisation if flood mitigation was built to reduce the risk to life.
The original funding agreement was expected to recieve money through the Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC), however budget cuts resulted in funding being scrapped for the Whirinaki project - so HBRC called on the Government to step in. The new design includes raising State Highway 2 and building stopbanks.
Whirinaki resident Lynn Noanoa, whose home was completely ruined in the 2023 cyclone, told RNZ this decision has been a long time coming, and it's a relief that funding has been secured.
"We're grateful to get to this spot and I know everyone in Pohutakawa Drive is grateful to get here - I know a lot of people will feel safer," Noanoa said.
Noanoa and her husband Art lived in a caravan beside their flood damaged home for 18 months awaiting council decisions, and have rebuilt their home in the same location. But they question whether their area actually needs a stop bank.
"We are stronger, a lot more knowledgeable and more ready... It gives us peace that we can just get on and spend time with family.
"Personally I don't know if we need a stop bank, but we do need it for the Categorisation and for people's wellbeing.. hopefully it works and doesn't take too long."
Lynn and Art Noanoa got so sick of waiting for council decisions, they installed two skeletons outside their home. Photo: Supplied
The original stopbank alignment that followed the Whirinaki Drain required a new culvert to be built under the State Highway, as well as significant road raising to tie the road into the stopbanks, resulting in the cost blow-out. But with a refined design, HBRC Chair Hinewai Ormsby said they have reduced the total cost, and new funding will bridge the gap from the original budget.
"We are committed to progressing this project with urgency to ensure the safety and resilience of our Whirinaki community including the large industrial sites which are essential for the region's economic health," Ormsby said.
Residents believe the council has wasted money getting to this point, however HBRC said it had taken six months to explore the options for cost cutting. While the community is pleased, they also want to see better warning systems for future floods.
"Mother Earth is going to do what she'll do - we just want the warning systems to be there so we don't wake up in middle of night ankle deep in water. We don't want that to happen again," Noanoa said.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
