Bay of Plenty Regional Council Opens $50 Million Rangitāiki Spillway
- Holly Grundy
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has officially opened the $50 million Rangitāiki Spillway, a major infrastructure project designed to reduce flood risk along the Rangitāiki River.
The spillway will divert excess water into the Rangitāiki Floodway during significant weather events, easing pressure on the river and protecting nearby communities.
An opening ceremony was held on Saturday, attended by representatives from the Council, Ngāti Awa, and Associate Minister for Regional Development Hon. Mark Patterson, alongside local community members.
“This project would not have happened without the combined effort of the community, Ngāti Awa, the Regional Council, Whakatāne and Kawerau District Councils, and Central Government,” said Council Chair Doug Leeder. “These contributions are a tangible recognition of the importance of regional New Zealand and, more specifically, the role the Eastern Bay of Plenty plays in the social and economic fabric of the wider region and the country.”
Associate Minister Patterson praised the project, while acknowledging its significance. “This is one of the biggest flood resilience efforts completed in New Zealand in recent years. It will deliver vital protection for local communities and unlock economic potential across the Eastern Bay of Plenty.”
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Engineering Manager Mark Townsend added, “Flood protection, such as the spillway, is the first line of defence in a flood event. That’s why the Regional Council continually invests in managing and maintaining flood protection assets around the rohe. The spillway upgrade is a great example of what can be achieved when robust data and modelling are combined with innovative engineering and community input.”
The spillway and floodway upgrades complete a suite of flood defence works along the Rangitāiki River, including the construction of new floodwalls and stopbanks at the river mouth near Thornton.
