Councils hope budget will answer flood defence funding call
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“This money from the Government will allow the projects to move at a faster pace, several years in advance of where they might otherwise be if regional councils do the work by themselves,” Ponter said.
He said most of the projects have been consented to.
Environment Canterbury Chair Peter Scott said as well as improving stop banks, the projects vary from removing shingle from riverbeds, removing slash, planting near rivers and moving infrastructure that’s nearby to safer locations.
“Getting on top of our river issues in New Zealand from regional council’s perspective across the country is the most urgent issue we have,” Scott said.
“They (Government) assure us that that's the top of their hearts, but whether it's top of the Budget or not, we don't know so we're looking forward to the budget.”
The chairmen led the creation of Before the Deluge 2.0, a November 2023 report making the case for Government co-investment based on their original report, which was created before Cyclone Hale and Gabrielle struck.