May 18, 2021
Ambitious plan to make lower Waikato flood resilient
Waikato River Authority co-chair Tipa Mahuta said a $16 million restoration programme for the the lower Waikato catchment was collaboration at its finest.
The programme was launched this week with the planting of a kōwhai tree at Taniwha Marae east of Te Kauwhata.
It includes four projects funded from the Government’s COVID-19 recovery package, with extra funding also provided by Waikato River Authority, Waikato Regional Council and others.
Council chief executive Chris McLay says flood protection infrastructure on what is a giant floodplain will be replaced and there will be environmental enhancements to reduce erosion, protect and restore freshwater quality and create habitat for biodiversity and mahinga kai species.
About 80 full time equivalent jobs will be created, more than 360,000 plants will go into the ground, nearly 300ha of land will be retired and about 180km of fencing will be built, with the support of landowners.
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