Fun with flood protection

Can flood protection make for interesting, fun summer events? Absolutely! And that's exactly what Greater Wellington has lined up in the Hutt Valley and Otaki as part of its summer Regional Outdoors Programme.

"Flood protection is such a huge part of Greater Wellington's work, and has benefits for thousands of our region's residents. This is your chance to find out more about these works and even make your own contribution to flood protection," says Thane Walls, Greater Wellington's Hutt River Ranger.

The Stopbank Soiree - a new addition to the programme - is an inside view from Greater Wellington staff, including Flood Protection Engineers and the Hutt River Ranger, on the important flood protection works at Strand Park near the Hutt River. This evening event focuses on the new Strand Park Stopbank, which will protect Woburn and Moera up to a one in 440 year flood in the Hutt River (the last big flood in the Hutt River - in January 2005 - was a one in 25 year flood).

And the popular Great Gravel Grabs are back again at the Hutt and Otaki rivers. "The Great Gravel Grabs have been an enormous success since we first started them a few years ago. Hundreds of people have loaded up their trailers with gravel to take home for landscaping and doing up their gardens," says Thane.

Usually you need permission to remove gravel and stones from the riverbed, and permission is generally only for "hand picking". Greater Wellington doesn't allow for private use of mechanical extractors as it's important that stones are only removed where there's too much gravel and not where it's actually needed.

Every year Greater Wellington extracts gravel from the Hutt and Otaki rivers as part of its flood protection measures. Removing gravel helps reduce erosion pressure and increases the river's capacity to cope with flooding.

Each of these events is free. More information is available at www.gw.govt.nz/events or by phoning 04 801 1041.

The Hutt Great Gravel Grab

When: Saturday 7 February, 10am-2pm

Where: Hutt River Trail, Moonshine Park. Enter park off Moonshine Rd

Bring: Trailer and shovel

Stopbank Soiree

When: Wednesday 11 February, 7pm-8pm

Where: Hutt River Trail, Strand Park. Meet at the stopbank at the end of Whites Line West, Lower Hutt

The Kapiti Great Gravel Grab

When: Saturday 14 February, 10am-2pm

Where: SH1, Otaki. Turn off SH1 immediately north of Otaki Bridge and follow the signs

Bring: Trailer and shovel