Almost $1million will be allocated to improve stormwater improvements at Waihi Beach after recent flooding wreaked havoc in the township.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council yesterday decided to increase rates from 5.07 per cent to 5.2 per cent in the coming financial year to pay for works.

Waihi Beach Road following the flash flooding in April.

A total of $926,000 will go towards initial work to lessen the flood risk and help give reprieve to flood stricken residents.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council utilities manager Kelvin Hill says the improvements will include replacing two small stormwater culverts with a large box culvert on Beach Road in One Mile Creek along with a pumped drainage system to be installed on Otto Road.

'It's of significant importance in terms of the last rain event it blocked [Beach Road] and then its overtopped and then caused issues downstream not only in the streets but also houses.”

Bank protection work is being investigated behind the Top 10 Holiday Park in One Mile Creek following significant erosion with gabion baskets to be installed.

Resource consents for work on the creek have already been supplied and council is looking to work with the Waihi Beach Dam on future flooding strategies.

'That's a big ticket item [Waihi Beach Dam] but that will be part of the 10 year program. There's some work which could happen in terms of if there is overflow we can put in a spillway.”

Kelvin admits the allocated money will not lead to an immediate response for residents and flooding issues will remain for some.

'There's a number of components, this is probably the very first part of work. The long term strategy probably requires us to go back to the community again and formulate a 10 year stormwater program.

'While it's positive for the residents they would have rather some immediate work. I sympathise with a number of people. We are trying to treat people as fair as we can.”

Waihi Beach Storm Water Action Team (SWAT) organiser Robert Hope says this is a positive step for the community with council offering reassurance to residents.

'It's definitely a good start. We are feeling positive that they have started that way so we hope they will continue on little fixes along with the long term fixes.”

Council's positive stance to work on improvements may not only bring optimism back into the beachside community but see residents regaining the ability to have their homes insured following the frequent flood damage, says Robert.

'If there can be a fix and if it's proved then that's a real good outcome otherwise their values drop and they cannot get their houses insured.”

SWAT organisers, the community initiative looking to work with council on flood related issues, will meet with Kelvin and other council representatives in the coming weeks to discuss where improvements are needed quickly.