Residents in the Hilldale Reserve area of Kawerau are urging local authorities to find a swift and economical solution to the persistent flooding problem.
The Kawerau District Council has yet to finalise a flood mitigation plan that satisfies all residents.
During a submissions hearing last week, John Whitehead, economist and former secretary to the Treasury of New Zealand, highlighted the ongoing distress among those affected by the floods that occurred two years ago.
“We’ve got people there who can’t live in their homes because parts of their homes are unliveable. They can’t get them fixed because they’re waiting for their insurance companies to pay, and the insurance company won’t pay because they’re waiting for the council to make a decision,” he said.
The streets around Hardie Avenue experienced significant flooding during the heavy rains of the 2022-2023 summer. The area also saw flooding during the 2017 ex-cyclone Debbie, which heavily impacted Edgecumbe.
The council has earmarked $250,000 for a $1 million dewatering project for Hardie Avenue and has sought $750,000 in funding from Waka Kōtahi New Zealand Transport Authority to cover the remaining costs. The project includes the installation of swales, drainage pipes, and concrete U-channels.
Mayor Faylene Tunui stated that the council has been actively communicating with residents of Hardie Avenue and the surrounding streets.
“We’ve got our Red Bands on and we’ve walked that whenua, so we can see it, touch it, feel it ... so, we can look at ways we can help the families that live there,” she said.
The council’s Annual Plan 2024-2025 consultation document asked the community for input on how to proceed if the Waka Kotahi funding application is unsuccessful.
Whitehead called for a re-evaluation of the proposed project, saying: “The project you are proposing is half the length it was before. It only helps half the people. It takes care of surface water, not groundwater.”
He was also among 38 submitters opposing the council’s proposal to spend $150,000 to investigate a secure asbestos containment site’s viability.
The council has already spent $50,000 on planning and cost assessments for the site over the past two years.
"From history, and work in that area, every 10 or 20 years, regulations change,” Whitehead said. “If central government makes a change and wants that dump moved, who’s liable? You are. I wouldn’t go there. Wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.”
A council spokesperson expressed gratitude to the community for participating in the consultation process and acknowledged those who spoke directly to the mayor and elected members.
The council will review a report analysing all submissions at the next meeting, where the members will consider and deliberate on the feedback.
Survey findings recently released by major insurers revealed that climate risks are increasingly driving home-buying decisions in New Zealand. Specifically, 86% of participants consider climate change a key factor when purchasing a home, compared to just 55% two years ago.
This month, a new parliamentary inquiry on climate adaptation was launched, aiming to develop policies for managing the impacts of climate change on New Zealand.
