Decision making and next steps

How decisions on flood resilience options will be made

Our next step is to do a comparative analysis of the design options, balancing:

  • Protection of life and property
  • Feasibility and cost
  • Environmental and cultural outcomes
  • Equity across communities
  • Practicality for farming / land use

Councillors from Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) will make the final decision on the preferred option/s after public and iwi input. This will be consulted on within the Long-Term Plan in 2027.

Project timeline

We’re in the early stages of this project, so the feedback and information you provide will help us select one of the options we’re considering.

Indicative timeframes are:

  • 2026: Engagement with landowners, iwi, community, and Waimakariri District Council. Options refined into a shortlist.
  • 2027: Preferred options selected, resource consent process begins, land compensation / purchase process begins (if required). Project details are updated in Environment Canterbury’s Long-Term Plan.
  • 2027–2032: Work begins (depending on Council decisions)


Once an option has been selected, we will complete the work in stages:

  1. Ōkūkū confluence → Rangiora Railway Bridge
  2. Railway Bridge → SH1 Bridge
  3. SH1 → the ocean

How this work is funded

This project was socialised in the Long-Term Plan 2024-34 with an indicative eight-year cost of $15 million. This funding will come from a mix of local targeted rates (for directly benefitting communities) and regional general rates, with potential for central government co-investment too.

As we develop the design to a preferred option, the cost estimate and funding model will be refined. It is our intent to update the funding in the 2027-37 Long Term Plan.

You can find out more about how we fund river management work on our River Rating District webpage.