Flood recovery work delayed

Flood recovery work on the Taylor River has been put off until May – to protect spawning fish.

Blenheim residents will have to put up with flooding at the downtown amphitheatre for a bit longer.

A wet summer and two major storms in two years have sparked an increase in silt on the riverbed.

But until fish spawning season is over, crucial weed cutting works will have to wait .

Council Rivers and Drainage Engineering Manager Andy White says council appreciates the delay may be frustrating.

“We’ve had a fairly wet summer on top of two major storms over the last two years, which means there has been increased siltation - or aggradation - of the riverbed,” he said.

“This is part of the natural behaviour of all rivers when rainfall is heavy or prolonged.”

Under rules laid out in the Marlborough Environment Plan, river works are not allowed in the Taylor or Opaōa rivers from 1 February to 30 April. The move means people should steer clear of the flooded area, with barriers being put in place to discourage people from cycling or walking there.

An Easter egg hunt had also been relocated.

Andy says council will also remove gravel and sediment to