Waimakariri flood repair bill more than $4m

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Heavy machinery is out in force to repair damaged infrastructure across the Waimakariri district following the July rain events.

The Waimakariri District Council’s repair bill has escalated to more than $4 million as staff and contractors repair underground services, roads, bridges, culverts, slips and washouts from overland flow.

In a report to last month’s council meeting, utilities and roading general manager Gerard Cleary said staff have been busy responding to 685 drainage service requests and 130 sewer service requests.

‘‘Some are resulting in works which are able to be completed this year and others are able to be addressed by existing capital works projects or are the landowner’s responsibility.’’

The council hopes to secure nearly $1 million from Waka Kotahi NZ Agency towards roading repairs expected to total $1.94 million.

Some of the repair work is being shared with Environment Canterbury (ECan), with the council looking to loan fund the bulk of the repair bill.

Emergency repairs are also being made to urban stormwater across the district, at an estimated cost of $615,000.

The bulk of the urban stormwater work is in Kaiapoi. This includes installing temporary pumps for the Dudley, Feldwick and McIntosh drains, and deployed to McDougal Place, Cridland Street West and Trousselot Park as needed, at an estimated cost of $185,000.

Cleary said drains in rural drainage areas had generally functioned well.

Repairs are being made to scouring of bridges, slumps and slips on Lees Valley Rd costing $250,000, and a culvert on Okuku Pass Rd costing $20,000.

Council staff are working with Environment Canterbury (ECan) for repairs at Silverstream, costing $50,000.

Unsealed roads are being re-metalled from scour and washing out of fines at an estimated cost of $580,000. Repair work following a bank collapse at Ohoka Stream is expected to cost $10,000.

Other works include drain scour repairs with a retaining wall at Upper Sefton Rd ($100,000) and reinstatement of river fords ($80,000).

Repairs to a culvert and upgrading pipe work on Main North Rd is expected to cost $100,000, while fixing a collapsed culvert on Old North Rd will cost $40,000 and a culvert upgrade at Wolffs Rd will cost $80,000.

A new drain at Kaiapoi Urupa will cost about $60,000.

Work to mitigate additional runoff at Ashley Gorge Road and upgrades to a culvert access way at Vicenza Drive will each cost $50,000.

The council’s contribution to repairs at the Okuku River, in conjunction with ECan, is expected to be $25,000.

Scoping includes river training works and bank protection works totalling $50,000.

Sewer repairs will cost $340,000.

This includes work to upgrade the pipe work and manholes at Kairaki sewer, costing $100,000.

Modifications to reduce the inflow the Kings Avenue wastewater will cost $50,000, with work to reduce inflow and infiltration at the Mandeville septic tanks will cost $100,000.

The Tuahiwi and Fernside waste water systems require work to reduce inflow and infiltration from private laterals costing $50,000.

A further $40,000 is needed for inflow and infiltration property inspection work at Woodend Beach and Waikuku Beach.

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