The Taramakau River posed significant difficulties and dangers for early travellers on the West Coast.

There are two memorials to Whitcombe; one on the river's left bank at the (road-)rail bridge, and he is one of the four men commemorated by the Westland Explorers' Monument in Hokitika Cemetery.

[9] Before a bridge was built near the coast, a cable way operated across the river, carrying a tram car.On 18 December 1893, the railway line from Hokitika to Greymouth opened, including a 220 metres (720 ft) long single-lane road and rail bridge across the Taramakau River near Kumara Junction.

[11] The one-lane bridge also caused traffic congestion on State Highway 6, because vehicles had to queue before crossing.

However, by 1958, erosion had progressed to the point that there was only 5 metres of land remaining between the Taramakau and Ōrangipuku Rivers, and emergency works were required.

This proposal was only partially implemented to contain costs for ratepayers, with works including 900 metres (3,000 ft) of rock riprap, and strengthening and raising stopbanks where there was inadequate freeboard.

[15] The river protection works at Inchbonnie are some of the most critical flood defences managed by the West Coast Regional Council, because of the widespread consequences if they failed.