Whirinaki

The heart of the plan is simple: stronger, higher flood protection. That means building new stopbanks along a revised alignment – with one important feature.

Part of the new design includes raising a section of State Highway 2. It’s an essential piece of the puzzle, and we’re working closely with NZTA to make sure it meets all the right safety standards. There are still a few hoops to jump through before they give it the final nod – but we’ve been given the green light to press ahead with investigations and design work.

The refined design includes two key parts. First, a new residential stopbank, built to provide a 1-in-100-year level of protection. Second, the reinstatement of the original 1-in-500-year protection for Whirinaki’s industrial area.

A 1-in-100 level of service (LoS) is the standard we’re using across Hawke’s Bay – and it’s in line with national best practice for flood protection. It means the new stopbanks will offer the same high level of resilience as other major HBRC flood projects throughout the region.

No, not quite. Based on post-cyclone data, Cyclone Gabrielle was closer to a 1-in-180-year event – beyond the standard design benchmark. But the new stopbank will still offer a strong level of protection, in line with similar projects being built across Hawke’s Bay and elsewhere in the country. 

No. The original design had the stopbank sitting between 1.8 and 3.4 metres high, depending on where you stood. The refined version brings that down to between 1 and 2.5 metres along the alignment – helping preserve more of the outlook for residents along Pohutukawa Drive.

No. Detailed modelling shows the upgraded stopbanks won’t push floodwaters toward Bay View or make existing risks worse. In a major event on the Esk River, Bay View would still face challenges – but the new stopbanks won’t add to them. 

To move a property from Category 2C to Category 1, three things need to be in place:

• A solid design with a clear consenting pathway.
• Legal land access in place (a formal agreement with HBRC).
• Full project funding confirmed, including Central Government support.

Once these conditions are met, reclassification can follow.

A change in category may also affect your insurance. We recommend checking with your insurance provider for more detail.

You can find your property’s land category status on its LIM (Land Information Memorandum). In Hastings District, LIMs are prepared by the council at your request – or by a prospective buyer – and include a summary of what the council knows about the property, including natural hazards like flooding. If a property is reclassified, the LIM will reflect that change. 

The revised budget for the project is $23.05 million. Of that, Central Government is contributing $17.30 million, with the remaining $5.75 million funded by HBRC.

The outcome? Two separate flood protection assets – one for Whirinaki (Residential) and one for Whirinaki (Industrial). The total cost will be split between the two, which in turn determines how the funding is shared across the different rating areas.

The $5.75 million local share will initially be covered by HBRC through borrowing. That cost will then be split across the two new flood protection assets – one for the residential area and one for the industrial area – and funded through their respective rating schemes.

Following consultation on the 2024–2027 Three-Year Plan, Council has confirmed the following approach:

• For the industrial stopbank: construction costs will be funded through a 70% targeted rate and 30% general rate. This same 70/30 split will also apply to the ongoing maintenance and operating costs.
• For the residential stopbank: construction will be fully funded through the general rate. However, the 70/30 targeted/general rate split will apply to maintenance and operating costs once it’s built.