Media Release: Consultation dates for feedback on the Westport Flood Protection Scheme reset confirmed

‍ ‍Media Release

‍ ‍Resilient Westport

2 September 2026

‍ A Special Consultative Procedure on the changes proposed to the Westport Flood Protection Scheme (WFPS) will begin on 21 September 2026.

The Scheme is being delivered by the West Coast Regional Council and is part funded by the government via Resilient Westport, and ratepayers.

An extensive review has resulted in the need to make a number of changes to how the scheme is delivered and the associated costs, to make it more affordable.

The proposed changes represent a significant variation from what is included in the West Coast Regional Council’s current Long-Term Plan (2024-2034) and what was consulted on with the community in 2021. Therefore, additional consultation is required using a Special Consultative Procedure.

The consultation will commence on Monday 21 September and run until 21 October 2026 at 5pm.

Once consultation begins, online submissions will be possible via the West Coast Regional Council website.

Written submission forms will also be available for collection and drop off at Buller District Council’s Westport facilities (Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library and the Brougham Street Service Centre) and the Resilient Westport office (147 Palmerston Street, Westport) during community drop-in sessions.

Information on the project reset is available on the Resilient Westport website (www.resilientwestport.co.nz/ special-consultative-procedure).

Community information evenings will also be held in the week of 21 September to provide the community an opportunity to find out more about what is proposed and how they can provide feedback:

Tuesday 22 September 2026 
NBS Theatre, 105 Palmerston Street, Westport 
6:30pm–7:30pm 

Thursday 24 September 2026 
NBS Theatre, 105 Palmerston Street, Westport 
6:30pm–7:30pm 

More information on what is proposed is available on the Resilient Westport website (www.resilientwestport.co.nz/special-consultative-procedure) along with Frequently Asked Questions which will be updated regularly.

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For further information please contact:

Resilient Westport Communications team media@resilientwestport.co.nz

Background information

What are the details of the proposed changes?

The proposed changes include considering: 

• The implication on rates of increased costs of the scheme 

• Changes to the level of flood protection to be delivered for Westport 

• Funding flood protection for Carters Beach. 

What are the options for consideration?

Option One is the main Westport Flood Protection Scheme (the Core Protection Scheme) built to a 1.5% AEP (Annual Exceedance Probability) protection level, based on the current climate, with 400mm of freeboard (extra contingency height). Plus, the revised alignment of the Carters Beach stopbank built to a 1.5% AEP, and 300mm of freeboard. This level of protection would protect Westport from a comparable flood to the July 2021 event but does not allow for future climate change.

Option Two is an Optimised Hybrid Scheme builds on Option One for Westport and Carters Beach. It is designed for current climate conditions, with allowance to raise the height of the floodbanks in the future. The additional cost is estimated at about $1 million. The difference is that at selected constrained locations, short sections of stopbank would be constructed with a wider footprint that can be cost-effectively built on in the future. For now, they would be built to the same height as Option One and offer the same level of flood protection.

The Options represent a funding shortfall of $22.5 million and $23.6 million respectively. This would need to be rated over the coming decades along with the original $10.2 million the community was consulted with in 2021.

Another option was considered but deemed too costly.

What was offered under the high protection or original scheme?

The original scheme proposed was for a high level of protection (1% AEP with RCP6 climate allowance and 600mm of freeboard). This level of protection, without including Carters Beach, is now estimated to cost more than $70 million to deliver. 1% AEP is designed to protect against a 1 in 100-year flood. 

In the last two years a great deal of above and below ground investigative work, detailed flood modelling and design work has been carried out that has given the project team the information required to reset the scheme to reduced level of service with greater affordability. The reduced level of service will protect the community from a similar sized event to July 2021 (1 in 67-year flood).

A final estimate of costs has not been prepared as this option is not affordable given the funding envelope available, additional cost to ratepayers and Council’s borrowing limits. At an estimated $70 million, the shortfall would be up to $50 million for this option (not including Carters Beach).