Horizons to extract gravel from Makino Stream to reduce flood risk

Horizons Regional Council will begin gravel extraction to lower the bed of the Makino Stream in Feilding between Duke and Derby Street bridges on Monday 10 March.

Horizons group manager catchment operations Dr Jon Roygard says the work will reduce the risk of flooding by allowing more water to flow through that section of the stream.
 
“Makino Stream is a key waterway when it comes potential flooding in Feilding because it carries not only water from up the catchment, but also run off and stormwater from the surrounding urban area. Ensuring the stream has space for as much water as possible is key to reducing potential flood risk.  
 
“One hundred cubic metres of gravel is extracted most years from above the water level as part of our regular maintenance programme on this stretch of the Makino Stream, but this year significantly more gravel is being removed.
 
“This year’s work will involve removing approximately 500 cubic metres of gravel from above and below the stream’s water level to improve the gradient and depth of the stream bed.” 
 
Before the work gets underway, the Horizons freshwater team will conduct a survey of the stream’s habitat so that the area can be returned to as similar a state as possible.
 
“Recreation of the stream’s current flow of pools and riffles after completion of the instream work is part of the project,” says Dr Roygard.
 
Members of the public can expect to see work beginning with construction of several bunds near the Derby Street Bridge to catch any sediment from the gravel extraction happening upstream.
 
The gravel will be extracted by a small digger working on a dry platform beside the stream channel.
 
“To avoid working in the stream itself, gravel from under the Duke Street bridge will be extracted from the right hand side of the channel and used to progressively build the dry gravel platform to work on as the digger moves towards the Derby Street bridge.
 
“When the digger arrives downstream at Derby Street it will turn around and start working back towards Duke Street, dumping the already extracted gravel in a small truck as it goes. 
 
“This gravel will then be moved to a larger truck and taken off site. Traffic management will be in place at times to allow for truck crossings and to reduce any inconvenience to the community, truck crossings will only occur between 9am and 3pm (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri) and 9am to 2pm (Wednesday).
 
“As the digger moves upstream, it will also restore the stream’s pools and riffles,” says Dr Roygard.
 
This year’s work is part of a commitment from Horizons and Manawatū District Council to upgrade infrastructure, with the two councils committing a combined $37.7 million over the 10 years of their latest Long-term Plans to complete flood resilience and stormwater upgrades. 
 
This work is being done under the guidance of a governance group comprising both councils, along with iwi partners and a landowner representative. 
 
The governance group is also overseeing a process to identify and assess options for more flood protection upgrades.
 
Governance group chair and Manawatū District deputy mayor Michael Ford says Manawatū District Council is working collaboratively with Horizons to substantially improve the resilience to flooding in Feilding. 
 
“There is a mix of major work including planning upgrading the Reid Line spillway and more minor work such as gravel extraction taking place.
 
“A choke point currently in a flood is at the Duke Street bridge in Feilding. 
 
“Gravel extraction there will allow a greater of volume of water through the Makino Stream channel. 
 
“This is a quick win for flood resilience and Manawatū District Council is grateful to Horizons for undertaking the work,” says Deputy Mayor Ford.
 
The instream work is expected to take about a week, depending on the weather.