Waihī Beach Stormwater Projects
Kia ora, welcome to the Waihī Beach Stormwater Projects page.
Waihī Beach has experienced several severe storm events in recent years, including May 2023, and multiple events in early 2026. We know how challenging this has been for the community, with flooding affecting homes, businesses, and access across the area.
Stormwater management in Waihī Beach is complex. The area is low-lying, close to the coast, and has limited ability for water to drain away naturally. This means some parts of Waihī Beach will always be prone to flooding.
While we can’t completely eliminate flooding, we are working to improve stormwater drainage and reduce the impacts as much as we can.
What we’re doing
We’re delivering a number of stormwater projects across Waihī Beach and Bowentown, including:
- Upgrading drainage systems
- Improving how stormwater flows through key areas
- Strengthening the network to better manage heavy rainfall
- Planning longer-term solutions for high-risk areas
At the same time, we are continuing to investigate more complex areas - including the earth dam and wider catchment - to identify practical, longer-term ways to reduce flood risk.
Why this work matters
Recent storms have reinforced the pressure that heavy rainfall places on the stormwater network. Much of this infrastructure was designed using historic rainfall data, and more intense and frequent weather events mean it doesn’t always perform the way it once did.
Our focus is on making practical improvements that:
- Reduce how often flooding occurs
- Help areas recover more quickly after heavy rain
- Improve the resilience of the network over time
Find out more
For the latest updates, detailed project information, and timelines, visit our main Waihī Beach stormwater projects page on Council's website.
If you want to get in touch or speak to someone:
- Get in touch with us, or let us know about something you have seen in the following ways:
- Phone us 0800 926 732
- Email us info@westernbay.govt.nz
- Download our Antenno App