Reasons for Edgecumbe flood ‘complex’

Devastation following the Edgecumbe flood. File photo.

A review into the factors behind the Edgecumbe flood has cited a variety of ‘complex' reasons as to why the disaster occurred.

Sir Michael Cullen has presented the findings of the independent review of the Rangitaiki River Scheme to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

On April 6 during ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie, there was a breach in the floodwall at College Road in Edgecumbe causing the destruction of 15 homes and extensive damage to a further 250.

Sir Michael says while it was fortunate no loss of life occurred, the disruption to the lives of many residents was of major significance and continues to this day.

The review examined the operation of the Rangitaiki River Scheme, with a specific focus on the operation of Matahina Dam, the Reid's Floodway and Spillway, and the College Road floodwall.

The Panel concluded the reasons for the floodwall failing at College Road are complex. They relate less to the design of the concrete wall itself and more to the fact water found its way through the material beneath the wall. This caused water pressure to rise in the ground underneath the concrete wall which eventually forced the cribwall inland. This then led to the foundations under the concrete wall giving way and the concrete wall sliding inland under the pressure of the river.

'A number of factors combined to allow this build-up of pressure to occur,” says Sir Michael.

'These included the way in which the foundation material may have been placed prior to the construction of the first wall in 1973. Damage to the wall foundations during the 1987 earthquake may have also been a contributing factor. Finally, it seems likely the concrete pad laid in 2012 adjacent to the concrete wall increased the build-up of pressure which led to the initial failure of the crib wall.”

The Panel also looked at whether the breach could have been avoided and what role Matahina Dam and Reid's Floodway played.

'We have found the actions taken to manage the lake levels and outflow of the Matahina Dam helped reduce the flood level downstream of the dam from a one-in-200 year event to a less than one-in-100 year event. It is concluded it is unlikely that lowering the lake level further or filling it more would have prevented the failure.

'We have also found the fact Reid's Floodway and Spillway were not completed meant it was unable to play a substantial role in diverting floodwater away from Edgecumbe. If the upgrade had been completed it would have reduced the pressure on the floodwall and may have prevented the failure.

'However, the Panel notes the original designs for the proposed floodway upgrade and spillway were less than optimal and it is now a matter of urgency to agree on the final design and complete the works.”

The Panel is concerned there has been insufficient attention paid to the risks faced by the Edgecumbe community particularly while the Rangitaiki River Scheme was being upgraded or to planning for evacuation in the case of overtopping or stop bank failure. Further, there is little evidence of Regional Council maintaining awareness of the community through statutory and evacuation planning. It also appears many of the residents of Edgecumbe, for whatever reasons, were insufficiently aware of the risks of serious flooding in the township.

The Panel has provided detailed recommendations to the council to improve current flood hazard management planning and the geotechnical elements of the scheme as well as advice on sustainable flood risk management solutions in the long term.

'I am confident the findings of this review will provide the community the answers they need and our recommendations will help reduce the risk of this happening in the future,” says Sir Michael.

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3 comments

Regional Council failed?

Posted on 03-10-2017 16:59 | By MISS ADVENTURE

In their job but of course they all walk away and live for another day to do the same thing again, is that the end result decision of it all.


@Misadventure - it's nobody's fault!

Posted on 03-10-2017 17:45 | By Papamoaner

What a negative twit. Don't you read the news? This is happening all around the world. Remember New Orleans and the mississippi? It's sinusoidal, and we are currently moving through a peak. Parts of the cycle are being aggravated by global warming, but it's still uncertain whether the main effects are on period or amplitude, or both. Time will tell. One thing is certain;- there will be some trauma along the way, and it's probably going to get worse before it gets better. The blame game is a spurious anomaly that is a fact of life. Were I living near the outside bend upstream of any river mouth these days, I might be thinking of moving unless there is very substantial flood protection.


Concrete wall failed?

Posted on 04-10-2017 00:03 | By MISS ADVENTURE

So the wall was not adequate to cope with a <100 year event even with the help of the lake/dams levels managed to minimise the impact. End result, failure to make decisions on the spill way, failure to place concrete properly to support the wall, quake possible damage to it never looked at nor inspected nor remedied all leads to you guessed it disaster for homeowners who pay rates. Also of no surprise at all is the lack of useful communication with residents, so making all issues worse. Folks, we have the same Regional Council here lurking around spending wildly on nice cute, fluffy wonderful things but they have not got the basics right.


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