Jim Cooke Park Project
http://www.gwrc.govt.nz/jim-cooke-park-project
Jim Cooke Park Project
What are we doing here?
The project involves increasing the height and length of the Jim Cooke Park stop bank that it gives a level of protection to the residents behind the stop bank that would otherwise be flooded in a major flood event that has a one percent chance of happening in any year.
Why are we doing it?
The river has a history of flooding. Flowing in from the western foothills of the Tararua ranges, the Waikanae River is joined by five other rivers and streams as it enters the floodplain.
In 2005, the river rose to one-in-80-year levels and residents of 20 houses in Otaihanga had to be evacuated. At Jim Cooke Park, the flood waters nearly went over the stop bank. Built in 1957, the stop bank fell short of modern day standards and would have failed to protect from a big flood that has one percent chance of happening in any year.
How are we doing it?
In consultation with the community, we determined the best way to upgrade flood defences, and started reconstructing the stopbank at Jim Cooke Park in early 2017. Besides strengthening and increasing the height of the stopbank, gravel that had built up in the bed of the river was removed. This gravel was then used for reconstructing the stopbank.
The upgraded stopbank is built to hold up against floods that have one percent chance of occurring in any year. The cost of reconstructing the stopbank was $1.8 million.
Where are we up to?
The project is in the restoration phase. This means the main work is done and we are tidying up the loose ends. This includes: repairing things that are not quite right, planting native trees along the river, boundary adjustments and maintenance requirements with the District Council.
Second chip seal coat for footpath – June 2019
We are applying the second coat of chip seal on to the foot paths that go over the newly built stop bank. This is standard practice and will help to waterproof the surface and protect the underlying foundation layers. This means the less maintenance will be required on the footpaths in the long run.
This is planned for June 2019.
Track repairs – End of 2019
The section of track shown in this image was built as part of the JCP project. However, it was damaged in a flood just after it was constructed back in 2017. Repairing this track is a priority for us and we aim to fix this before the end of 2019.
Additional soil on part of the stopbank – In progress
A part of the stopbank – the section on the left as you exit the JCP carpark -- has poor grass growth and has not significantly improved over time. We are attempting to remedy this by adding more topsoil and then re-grass seeding.
This work is in progress and we request people (and their animals) not go on these areas of the stopbank while the grass re-establishes completely.
