Waikato Regional Council (WRC) to complete survey of flood protection assets in March 2025

In welcomed news, the WRC announced that survey works on the Tauranga Taupo and Tongariro rivers would be completed between the 3rd and 28th of March.

This has been previously advised in the respective rivers Annual Works Plans 2024/2025, but none the less it is significant to finally see progress.

The work is significant because it is the gathering of data at various points down the river, and access is legislated under Section 132 of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act 1941.

With the updated data set the WRC will be able further develop their plans for each of the two rivers and work required to be done to maintain the flood protection assets. This is welcomed news after a period of inactivity for various convoluted reasons. Becuase of the absence of any gravel removal over the last five years, it would be fair to assume that some potentially substantial work will be required following the survey reports completion. 

There will work done on riverside vegetation at various points to enable ths survey. The Tongariro River was last surveyed in 2016.