Media Release:Regional councillors unanimously agree to the next steps for Westport Flood Protection Scheme reset
Media Release
Resilient Westport
25 August 2026
At an Extraordinary Council meeting today West Coast Regional councillors were given an update on the Westport Flood Protection Scheme (WFPS) and voted to approve the next set of actions to progress the reset of the scheme.
The Westport Flood Protection Scheme reset is focused on ways to deliver it in a more affordable way. The costs of the original scheme are now predicted to reach about $70 million, so the project team has worked on ways to reduce that and still deliver a credible scheme.
One tool for doing so is to lower the level of protection to Westport to protect against an approximately 1 in 67-year flood (similar to July 2021) – as opposed to 1 in 100-year previously proposed. The level of freeboard (extra height allowance for uncertainty) would also be reduced from 600mm to 400mm following enhanced computer modelling.
The project reset has financial implications for ratepayers and represents additional debt for WCRC.
In summary, Councillors agreed to:
A preferred option (Optimised Hybrid Scheme) outlined in the scheme reset
Move ahead with consultation on the funding approach proposed
Approve a Special Consultative Procedure on the two options proposed for the revised scheme
Approve the project team continuing with procurement work, within existing approved funding, until Council considers the scheme next at its 1 December 2026 meeting.
Note that Carters Beach protection is additional to the reset of the Westport main flood protection but is included in the consultation and rating modelling because the hydraulic modelling makes it a condition of the main scheme progressing.
Note that the scheme costs can be accommodated within the Council’s net debt to revenue covenant, but expenditure would need to be closely monitored.*
*Read the full recommendations on the WCRC website.
Discussions around the table included managing future debt levels, the difference between the full originally planned scheme and what is proposed now and what is planned for Snodgrass Road.
The two options include funding and flood protection for Carters Beach but don’t currently include Snodgrass Road. The reasoning was shared with councillors who were reassured the project intends to provide flood protection for both areas.
West Coast Regional Council Chief Executive Darryl Lew says Snodgrass Road is not being left out.
“This Special Consultative Procedure includes funding for Carters Beach, as it has interdependencies with the main scheme and must be delivered alongside it. The West Coast Regional Council is committed to providing flood protection for Snodgrass Road and the plan is that it will be delivered at a later date. It is not part of the planned Special Consultative Procedure because our plans for it haven’t changed and it carries no new rates proposition. We have carried out various investigations and have a concept plan which will be consulted on with the community in the future, not at this point.”
“We are pleased that today’s meeting resulted in us having a pathway forward where we can continue working towards sharing more with the community and hearing their views on what is proposed. A lot of work has gone into getting us this far and it is work for Westport and surrounds so that we can deliver on our undertaking to provide flood protection.”
The community will be notified of the dates for the Special Consultative Procedure, once they are finalised.
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For further information please contact:
Resilient Westport Communications team
Note to editors – options and costings detailed below.
What are the Options being consulted on?
Option One
The main Westport Flood Protection Scheme (the Core Protection Scheme) would be built to a 1.5% AEP (Annual Exceedance Probability) protection level, based on the current climate, with 400mm of freeboard (extra height allowance for uncertainty) and the revised alignment of the Carters Beach stopbank built to a 1.5% AEP, plus 300mm of freeboard level of protection.
This level of protection (1 in 67-year flood) would protect Westport from a flood comparable to the July 2021 event but does not allow for future climate change.
Option Two
Option Two (the Optimised Hybrid Scheme) builds on Option One for Westport and Carters Beach. It is designed for current climate conditions with the ability to raise the height of stopbanks in the future.
The additional cost is estimated at about $1.1 million.
The difference is that at selected locations, short sections of stopbank would be constructed with a wider base footprint while retaining the same crest height as Option One. This would mean that if the stopbanks were to be raised in the future, then the base foundation would already be in place.
This is a targeted adaptation measure. It makes it easier to raise the stopbank height in the future in the places where it would otherwise be difficult and costly. The rest of the alignment can be raised as required.
This option requires approximately 10% more structural fill than the Core Protection Scheme (Option One). In return, rock protection, filter layers, geotextile and toe works can be positioned on the future alignment now.
The level of flood protection (1 in 67-year flood) in the meantime is the same as Option One i.e built to a 1.5% AEP protection level, based on the current climate, with 400mm of freeboard. It would protect Westport from a comparable flood to the July 2021 event but allows for works to top up the stopbanks in the future, to help manage climate change.
Option One
Option Two
What would the cost be to me as a ratepayer?
Option One
Option Two