Co-funding flood protection in the Waikato region
In 2023, the 16 regional and unitary councils of New Zealand submitted a business case to the Government to consider co-investment in flood protection projects to improve community resilience against extreme weather events.
In response, as part of the Budget 2024, the Government set aside funding from its $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund towards co-funding flood resilience projects that are shovel ready or close to delivery.
Since then, Waikato Regional Council has made a number of successful applications to the fund.
Government co-investment reduces the cost of flood protection for ratepayers and improves the affordability of the council’s responsibility for flood protection.
The following projects have received funding by the Regional Infrastructure Fund and form a critical part of our planned regular renewal and maintenance programme.