Council is strengthening the region’s flood resilience, thanks to continued support from the Government’s Kānoa Regional Infrastructure Fund Tranche 2.

The three-year programme, part of a $96.8 million nationwide investment announced last year, targets nine priority hydrometric monitoring sites identified in the 2025 Environmental Monitoring Flood Network Risk and Resilience Review.

Council secured $162,000 in government funding for infrastructure upgrades, which is being matched with funding from Council budgets, under a 60:40 government-to-council funding split.

Environmental Monitoring Team Leader John Sutherland said the upgrades were about future-proofing the flood monitoring network.

“Investment in telemetry redundancy, power resilience and targeted sensor improvements is essential for strengthening both our operational readiness and our ability to respond to the increasing risks posed by climate change,” he said.

The improvements aim to modernise Marlborough’s river telemetry systems, accelerate essential upgrades and ultimately increase the region’s resilience to more frequent and severe flooding. Several projects have already been completed, with further work underway and scheduled for completion by June 2029.

“These projects are not only critical for community safety but also support regional economic stability,” Mr Sutherland added. “By building a more robust and responsive flood monitoring network, Marlborough is better equipped to protect people and property from future extreme weather events.”

To find out more about Council’s flood monitoring work, go to: marlborough.govt.nz/services/river-management/flood-information

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