Key Franz Josef flood resilience works completed

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Franz Josef township marked a major flood resilience milestone today, with the completion of key works on the Waiho River, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson says. “Homes, dairy farms, the aerodrome, and the Waiho River’s south bank will all enjoy improved flood protection now upgrades are completed for two major stop banks. Franz Josef is a nationally significant tourism destination, attracting up to two million visitors annually. These infrastructure works will make a material difference to the lives and resilience of this community,” Mr Patterson says. The works are part of a second stage of improvements to the Franz Josef Flood Protection Scheme and were co-funded through a $6 million grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund. The Franz Josef Flood Protection Scheme (the Scheme) is a vital infrastructure project aimed at safeguarding the Franz Josef township and surrounding areas from flooding caused by the Waiho River. The river is fed by meltwater from the Franz Josef Glacier, and often carries large boulders and debris, making flood events particularly destructive. Stage one of the Scheme was supported by a $9.2 million grant through the 2021 COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund – Infrastructure Group to improve resilience across the township. “These works are about giving the Franz Josef community greater confidence and security in the face of increasing flood risk, while longer-term decisions about the future of the area are worked through,” Mr Patterson says. The completion of the stopbanks makes way for the final piece of the stage two works, the Havill Wall upgrade. This will protect key assets between the Waiho River and the Tartare Stream, including the wastewater treatment plant, State Highway 6, homes, farmland, a holiday park and a local school.

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