District-wide flood hazard mapping project
Waipā District Council has completed a district-wide flood hazard mapping project to help plan for New Zealand’s changing climate, and the adverse weather events climate change could bring.
The project will help us to better understand the areas that may be at risk of flooding in severe weather events. With this information, we’ve been able to take a closer look at how well our stormwater system and other infrastructure are performing and start planning for what we’ll need to handle growth in the future.
Extreme weather events could become more common as a likely impact of climate change. More frequent intense rainfall may increase the likelihood of rivers flooding and flash flooding in rural areas and when urban drainage systems are overwhelmed.
While it complements our understanding of river flooding, managing that side of things sits with Waikato Regional Council.
Urban flood hazard mapping
The urban areas of Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Pirongia, and Ōhaupō were covered under the urban flood hazard mapping done in 2019-21.
Information gathered during the project is included on all urban LIM property reports and will assist with future decision-making and management of council’s stormwater assets
Urban Stormwater Flood Viewer
Rural flood hazard mapping
This stage of the project mapped the rural areas in the district not covered previously. It includes land-based localised flood hazards and does not map or go into detail on any dwellings or buildings.
The rural flood hazard mapping information collected will be included on all rural LIM property reports from August 2025 onwards.
