![]() “The unrelenting forces of nature through earthquakes, floods, and extreme weather events associated with climate change mean this community needs more help than most to plan for its future. Waka Kotahi-NZTA rebuilt the bridge in just two and a half weeks, but the damage is estimated to have led to an economic loss of up to $50 million for the West Coast. “In 2019 the bridge was swept away by a one in a hundred year flood which also caused widespread destruction around Franz Josef, closed SH6 and hurt the town’s economy. The Waiho River is fed by the meltwaters of the Franz Josef Glacier and carries enormous boulders and rocks down from the mountains when it floods. The earthquake fault line runs down the town’s main street. “The challenges facing Franz Josef and infrastructure on the coast are massive in scale. ![]() New research into the Alpine Fault also highlights the threats to the town and region from natural hazards. “Jobs, businesses, and whole communities depend on resilient infrastructure links on the West Coast. The co-funding arrangement involves $9.23 million from government, through the Provincial Development Unit. “The first phase of the flood protection work involves investment of up to $12.3 million by the government and local councils. “The jobs and commercial activity generated by the project will give the local economy an immediate shot in the arm as it recovers from the loss of international tourists following the global COVID19 pandemic. It will take about 18 months and councils estimate it will provide up to 30 fulltime jobs. “The first phase of the project will upgrade the northern stopbanks to protect Franz Josef township from the Waiho River, followed by work on the southern stopbanks. “The Franz Josef flood protection project puts fresh investment, confidence and jobs into the local economic recovery,” Mr Nash says. A new infrastructure project to increase the resilience of the Franz Josef community and the wider Westland economy has been given the green light.Įconomic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash says phase one of a flood protection scheme for the Waiho River has gained final approval, after West Coast councils put the project to government for COVID recovery support.
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