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When the rains come
The road between Pahiatua and Woodville is cut by flooding.
A council worker in the Manawatu noticed that a local farmer had made a breach in a flood protection wall so his stock could get to the river. He quickly contacted the farmer who had made the cutting and the breach was repaired. Two days later, the rains came down, the rivers rose, farms and houses were flooded – but thanks to the council worker’s quick response, a major urban area was spared.
Be prepared
New Zealand’s prosperity has been built on its success as a farming nation. Much of this has been made possible by extensive land use changes – replacing native vegetation with high producing pasture and tree species, introducing grazing animals, planting crops and draining wetlands. These changes have had huge economic benefits, but they have also caused problems such as flooding and soil erosion.
The legislative framework introduced under the Resource Management
Act 1991 encourages people to safeguard land for future generations.
Local government
has been given responsibility for ensuring coordinated and sustainable use
of land and water to minimise flooding and the effects of soil erosion.
Local authorities adopt storm water management methods that aim to avoid,
remedy or mitigate effects by:
- providing systems to drain storm water away and ensuring that they are kept clear from debris that may prevent water from draining
- controlling the quantity of impervious areas. Consents are required for discharges from impervious areas of more than 10002m to land or a receiving water (stream, river, lake, sea or groundwater)
- avoiding development in flood-prone areas
- providing and maintaining flood control systems such flood gates, which divert water to be held until it can be released when water levels fall, and stop banks
- managing catchments – through soil conservation and pest control. Uncontrolled pests can damage vegetation, increasing the chance of soil erosion and flash flooding. Adequate vegetation cover stabilises the ground and absorbs water, controlling water and sediment running off sloping land
- protecting wetlands that absorb water during heavy rain. These release water gradually so flooding is reduced and help stabilise shorelines and riverbanks. In addition, wetlands help improve water quality by slowing down the flow rate of the water, which allows particles to settle out.
www.mcdem.govt.nz
www.climatechange.govt.nz
www.maf.govt.nz
www.mfe.govt.nz