Work has begun on design concepts to protect Thames from flooding and storm surges caused by rising sea levels. The project was initiated after studies showed that $1 billion worth of assets could be at risk over time. The community has agreed that protection is the best way to adapt to this threat.
The project, which lasted three years, studied the risks to the entire Coromandel coastline. Actions to manage these risks have now been ranked, with the protection of Thames being a top priority. A governance group, made up of representatives from our Council, Ngāti Maru and Waikato Regional Council, has been formed to oversee the protection work for Thames.
Thames-Coromandel District Council Mayor Len Salt, who is chairing the governance group, said, “Thames is particularly vulnerable to storm surges and flooding due to rising sea levels, which puts about $1 billion of assets in our town at risk. Thames is the economic hub of our district, providing the majority of the Coromandel’s services, maritime industry, healthcare and business infrastructure. It’s our responsibility to make sure Thames is resilient and can thrive for future generations.”
Royal HaskoningDHV will now develop staged design options to protect the town from coastal flooding for a 1% AEP storm over the next 100 years. An earlier study showed that the main challenge in protecting Thames is the cost and scale of any defensive structures, as many areas are low-lying.
The design work will include full hydrodynamic modelling and joint probability analysis of coincident coastal and river flooding events. The governance group emphasised the importance of any protection structure connecting with other stormwater and river management work.
Funding for the design work and community consultation on design options has been allocated through the 2023-2024 Long Term Plan. However, funding for the construction of the protection is yet to be determined. Mayor Len Salt said, “We’re going to face some big costs, but we need to weigh these against the value of what’s at risk. We’re tackling these challenges directly and doing the necessary, innovative work, rather than just hoping the problems will disappear. This is a long-term vision and action plan.”
Public consultation on the design concepts is expected in May. For more information, visit the council’s Shoreline Management Pathways project web page.
