Glenorchy Flood Resilience
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About the project
We’re progressing plans to improve flood resilience for the Glenorchy community through the proposed Lower Rees Floodbank project.
The project has been developed in response to flood hazards identified through investigations undertaken by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), Otago Regional Council and specialist consultants. The proposed floodbank is designed to help reduce flood risk from the Lower Rees River and improve Glenorchy’s long-term resilience to significant flood events.
Project history
Flooding and erosion hazards associated with the Rees River and surrounding waterways have affected Glenorchy for many years, including significant flood events in 1999 and 2020.
Since 2022, several investigations have been completed, including:
Dart-Rees Floodplain Adaptation investigations
Glenorchy Natural Hazard Risk Assessments
Lower Rees River flood modelling and intervention options assessments
The Head of Lake Whakatipu Natural Hazards Adaptation Strategy.
These studies identified flooding from the Lower Rees River as a significant risk to property, community infrastructure and public safety, resulting in the development of a preferred floodbank option for further design.
Project milestones
Milestone | Status |
|---|---|
Floodplain adaptation investigations | Completed |
Flood hazard assessments and flood modelling | Completed |
Geotechnical investigations and aerial survey | Completed |
Preliminary design | In progress |
Stakeholder and landowner engagement | In progress |
Community engagement on preliminary design | Planned |
Detailed design | Future stage |
Consenting and approvals | Future stage |
Construction | Future stage |
Project updates
Preliminary design
The preliminary design for the Lower Rees Floodbank is being finalised.
The design identifies a technically feasible flood protection solution for Glenorchy and includes supporting infrastructure such as stormwater upgrades, erosion protection measures and improved pathway access.
Geotechnical investigations
Ground investigations have been completed to better understand local soil conditions and confirm design assumptions. These investigations will help inform the next stage of design development.
Stakeholder engagement
Further discussions are planned with affected stakeholders. Feedback from these discussions will help inform the final design.
Future engagement
Community engagement will be undertaken following completion of the next phase of investigations and development of a preferred design. Feedback from residents, stakeholders and affected landowners will help inform detailed design and project decisions.
Contact us
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about this work, please contact QLDC Services by phone on 03 441 0499 or email services@qldc.govt.nz