A multi-stakeholder working group set up to help manage ongoing flooding issues at Graham's Creek on the Coromandel has established a set of project principles.

The working group is made up of technical staff from Waikato Regional Council and Thames-Coromandel District Council, regional councillors Stuart Husband and Clyde Graf, and Tairua-Pauanui Community Board chair Bob Renton, as well as six landowner representatives.

A group set up to deal with flood protection issues has set its principles.

Besides looking to achieve minimum cost, a recent group workshop decided on its principles to guide decision-making:

The principles are:

- The need to meet timeframes for council funding and agreements.

- Achieving the highest level of flood protection for the greatest number of properties possible, that is cost effective and technically viable.

- Providing for aesthetic values as much as possible.

- Maximising ecological enhancement opportunities.

- Taking an integrated catchment approach to the issues.

- Providing for future planning and needs.

- Being acceptable to the floodway landowner.

Meanwhile, the group is currently looking at design options for the causeway as part of the flood management approach and will have these reviewed by an independent engineer.

Tairua-Pauanui Community Board chair Bob Renton says input into the working group from local representatives is 'vital and valuable”.

'A guided walk by Derek Boyd around the creek and floodplain with the working group had helped focus ideas on ways to try to reduce the cost of the project, with local knowledge paying dividends.

The working group was set up to manage flood protection issues relating to Graham's Creek and the Tairua-Manaia Rd causeway on the Coromandel Peninsula and will refine and finalise the current work plan.

Waikato regional councillor Clyde Graf says his is a project that may not be music to everyone's ears.

'But we are doing our best to try to produce a tune that can resonate with most.”