Gore flood protection upgrade
The Gore flood protection upgrade, completed in April 2024, has increased the resilience of Gore’s flood defences, providing more robust and continuous protection for the town’s 7,300 residents and critical infrastructure, including key road and rail links between Murihiku Southland and the rest of the South Island.
In February 2020, very high flows in the Mataura River tested Gore’s stop banks to near capacity, prompting the evacuation of over 2,500 residents. Although the stop banks protected the community, significant repairs were needed. The Gore flood protection upgrade project focused on areas that presented the most risk to the community in the event of flooding in the near term.
Key upgrades completed
The project included constructing a new stop bank along Ontario and Toronto Streets, upgrading stormwater culverts and removing high-risk trees along River and Richmond Streets to reduce flood risk. Re-grassing and earthworks were also completed to reinforce the new bank sites and prevent erosion.
Why these upgrades matter
Removing trees and shrubs from stop banks prevents root systems from weakening these vital structures, which could lead to breaches during high flows. The improved stop banks are designed to allow potential future height adjustments, supporting Gore’s long-term flood resilience.
Benefits
- Enhanced protection for Gore’s community, property, and infrastructure up to the current design flood level.
- Future-proof design for easy adaptation as climate resilience needs evolve.
- Funding from central government enabled work to be brought forward in the Long-term Plan and delivered at a much lower cost to ratepayers.
Looking ahead
The next phase involves the application of 2D hydraulic modelling of the Mataura River, including the Gore section, to guide future resilience measures. Community engagement will continue as we assess the capacity of the existing flood protection and plan the next steps.
Funding and collaboration
This project is part of the national Resilient River Communities initiative and was a collaboration between Environment Southland and Kānoa – the Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, with support from Gore District Council and Hokonui Rūnanga. It is one of six Resilient River Communities projects Environment Southland undertook with co-funding from central government via the Covid-19 Recovery and Response Fund in the period 2021-2024.
By having resilient river communities, we hope to minimise environmental, economic, and social damage caused by flooding – making Aotearoa New Zealand safer for everyone.
