A joint initiative is underway between Tararua District Council, Horizons Regional Council, Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and the Rural Support Trust to increase the resilience of Tararua’s roading network.

With Tararua’s roading network susceptible to damage from high intensity rainfall events, the project aims to bring multiple programmes and funding sources together to maximise the benefit for Tararua communities.  There were approximately 790 slips and 435 dropouts following Cyclone Gabrielle – this programme is all about stabilising the land next to the road to prevent future slips and dropouts.

The initiative draws on existing funding across agencies to stabilise vulnerable roadside land. There is little or no cost to the landowner depending on the site requirements.

Land in erosion prone areas will be stabilised using plants sourced and funded through Horizons’ Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) programme, which aims to protect the Manawatū-Whanganui region’s hill country by working with farmers to reduce erosion on their land.

To identify which areas could potentially benefit from this project, Council’s roading team at Tararua Alliance analysed data from the roading network and identified known slope movement areas. This was cross referenced with erosion prone land data from Horizons SLUI records.

To supplement the funding available through the SLUI programme, the project team have also reached out to NZTA and the Ministry for Social Development to explore the possibility of collaborating and obtaining funding from other government programmes designed to support regional recovery activity and increase employment.

A pilot site on Route 52 was planted late last year with 170 poplars and is establishing well. A further 160 sites have been identified, and a programme of work is underway to assess what work is needed at each site to stabilise the land and mitigate the risks to the road.

Tararua District Mayor Tracey says, “By taking a proactive approach to increase the resilience of our network with the support of our funding partners, we’re able to front foot some of the ongoing challenges to our roading network and not only improve environmental and social / employment outcomes but reduce the cost impact and disruption for our residents and ratepayers.”

The project also aims to contribute to social and economic outcomes within the district, by working with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to provide opportunities for local people who are not currently in employment, education or training, to undertake planting work.

Darlene Rastrick, Regional Commissioner for Social Development, Central Region says, "MSD is committed to working with our key partners in Tararua on the ongoing recovery efforts, creating employment opportunities, and achieving positive outcomes for local people."

To find out more about the project, head to Tararua Land Stability and Roading Resilience Project | Tararua District Council