To significantly increase the volume of water (particularly fresh water) flowing from the Kaituna River into Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi/Maketu Estuary, in a way that maximises the ecological and cultural benefits (particularly wetlands and kaimoana) while limiting the economic cost and adverse environmental effects to acceptable levels.
The proposed re-diversion will maximise the flow into the estuary while keeping Te Tumu cut open for flood protection and boating access.
The re-diversion will significantly change the existing landscape, particularly to low-lying land north of Ford’s Cut. It will also re-create at least 20 hectares of wetland habitat, partially restoring the landscape to what it looked like before 1956.
See the Project Background page for further information about the rationale and preparatory work behind this project. Base funding for the project was budgeted for in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council 2015-25 Long Term Plan which was adopted on 25 June 2015.
Construction work is now under way and due to be completed by June 2020.
All of the resource consents and conditions for the project were finalised in an Environment Court decision issued in May 2016. All of the land acquisitions and detailed designs for the project have now been completed. See a map of publicly owned land around the estuary.
On 29 March 2018, Regional Councillors awarded a contract for construction works to J Swap Contractors Limited. A public site blessing was held on Tuesday 12 June 2018, to mark the start of construction works for the project, see video below. Read about the event here.
The video below shows construction works underway in August 2018.
Project progress and monitoring results will be reported on annually and updates will be given to the community at quarterly public meetings.
Read the summary Environmental Effects Assessment: Kaituna River Re-diversion and Wetland Creation Project Assessment of Environmental Effects Summary May 2014 (429KB)