The upgrade work will be done on a contour channel which provides flood protection and a water course to the Waipori pump station, protecting 7300ha of highly productive agricultural land surrounding communities and the Dunedin International Airport at risk from flooding in high rainfall events.
Council project delivery team leader Brett Paterson said use of the contour channel floodbank goes back more than a century, as it was originally constructed in the early 1900s.
The upgrade consisted of reconstructing a 2.4km section of the floodbank and bridge upgrades within the section.
The work would bring the channel up to present-day construction standards by improving the resilience to the floodbank.
The upgrade was part of the council’s climate resilience programme.
Engineering manager Michelle Mifflin said the bill would be picked up by the council and the Government, through the Kānoa — the Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
The ministry pitched in with $3.2 million and the council covered the remaining $1.8 million.
This funding was a part of the Government’s budget which included $210 million for climate resilience and flood protection projects across New Zealand.
Ms Mifflin said the climate resilience programme was an important funding boost to key infrastructural projects for Otago.
The region had seven flood schemes to protect about 43,000ha, which included 218km of flood banks, 14 pumping stations, 55 bridges and other assets, the council said.
