Whakatane District

Matata Regeneration Project

Project 6. Waitepuru Swale

On overflow depression swale will be constructed to channel heavy flood waters and debris flows away from the town.

Waitepuru Overflow Swale options
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As part of the Waitepuru Stream Works solution, it has been identified during the preliminary design phase, that there is a requirement for a flood overflow channel. In line with the stream works solution, there is a requirement to provide a solution to handle flood flow in events greater than the approximately five year return period flood (i.e. on average once every five years).

Three engineered pathway options have been identified, two options being investigated to feed into the Matata Eastern Lagoon or a further option to feed into the Tarawera River. As described in the Waitepuru Stream Works, the lower flood flows will be running to the channel through town. It is only for the more extreme flooding events that flows will be directed into the flood overflow channel.

This channel/swale will be constructed in presently undeveloped land to the east of the town and east of Fairfield and Marae Lanes.

All these options would involve construction of new culverts across the railway and state highway.