In late 2022, New Zealand’s regional and unitary councils submitted Before the Deluge to Government Ministers requesting urgent co-investment in flood management infrastructure. This landed with government mere weeks before the devastation of Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle.
Treasury has estimated that the total damage from both the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle to be between NZ$9 billion to $14.5 billion; with NZ$5 to $7.5 billion being related to infrastructure owned by central and local government. Without the investment made by regional authorities to protect some areas, the total damage would have been even greater.
Before the Deluge 2.0 presents this new National-led government with a ready-to-go opportunity. Regional and Unitary Councils have approved and scoped a $131m contribution to the much-needed investment in critical infrastructure, and request Government to include $197m in their Budget to enable 80 ready-to-go flood management infrastructure projects. Putting this request into perspective, the recently upgraded Taradale stopbank, which cost approximately $4m to complete, saved close to 10,000 properties from flooding in Cyclone Gabrielle. The savings in lives and livelihoods from that investment has been quantified in the billions. It also requests a “continuation of a similar governance arrangement that informs and protects the investment proposition and assures quick and efficient delivery and “commitment to working with the regional sector of local government on developing a 10-year pipeline of co-investment in flood resilience infrastructure.”
This year we have been focusing on recovery from these major weather events, but we must break the cycle of responding to tragedy and instead invest in future resilience.
Let’s turn our minds to the future and invest in a way that gives communities and business the confidence to invest in growing the New Zealand economy.
Investment in vital flood protection infrastructure before devastation is a no-brainer. Local government cannot do it alone – nor should it have to – with this infrastructure not only protecting local economies and livelihoods, but also protecting crown-owned infrastructure such as roads, railway lines, power and communications infrastructure, as well as hospitals, homes, and schools. This protection is what New Zealand communities expect of both central and local government. It is a cost-burden too large to bear by local ratepayers, alone.
The $217m Covid recovery co-investment into 55 flood management projects across New Zealand is proof that the co-investment model works. It enabled projects to accelerate far beyond – sometimes years ahead – of their planned completion dates and has created significant momentum, with local councils and businesses well-equipped and staffed to continue this work across the next tranche of critical projects.
The Before the Deluge 2.0 proposal has the support of Mayors and Chairs on behalf of their communities throughout New Zealand. For the sake of long-term benefits, now is the time to maximise current capability, social licence, and achieve cost-benefits to put up better defences that will ultimately avoid or considerably minimise the extraordinary recovery expenses when the next extreme weather event hits our shores.
This is a moment in time for New Zealand. We can choose to invest extraordinary amounts in recovery, or we can choose to invest intelligently, before the deluge.
Michael McCartney is the Convenor of the Regional Chief Executive Officer Group. Before the Deluge 2.0 has been presented to the Government by the regional sector of New Zealand’s local government, governed by the mayors and chairs of regional councils and unitary councils, directed by the Regional Chief Executive Officers’ group, and supported by Special Interest Groups made up of subject-matter experts from around the country.