‘Who is in and who is out?’: Tensions over Westport flood scheme
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Nearly three years after a devastating flood displaced hundreds of residents in Westport, they have been told a solution is near.
But at the Westport Rating District Joint Committee annual meeting, held in public for the first time on Wednesday, residents called for more transparency and raised fears the town remains as vulnerable to the next big flood.
The committee is charged with making recommendations to the West Coast Regional Council on the build and future maintenance of the ring bank flood protection scheme for the West Coast town.
Phil Rutherford, a former Buller District councillor, said greater clarity was also needed in the map of the proposed scheme for residents needing to know "who is in and who is out", he said.
Later in the meeting chief engineer for the scheme, Peter Blackwood, said mitigation options for two areas currently excluded under the scheme - Snodgrass Rd and Carters Beach - have yet to come.
Lifelong Westport resident Kevin Smith recalled the 1970 Westport flood, but "the talk" of the last 54 years had not translated to action by the authorities until the July 2021 event.
And the 2021 and 2022 floods "were no bigger" than previous 'record' floods, stretching back more than 70 years, Smith said.
"What was different was the amount of damage," he said.
Westport's inland flood defences on the Buller and Orowaiti rivers at Organs Island had served their purpose in 1950.
But since then, Westport had expanded in a way that heightened risk to people, he said.
"The 1950 flood, everything worked very well. It was a bigger flood than what we have just endured. Why aren't we learning?
"I think we should have a report on what caused the damage. The damage was man-made. What we have done is built in silly places."
Smith said the community needed to work through the flooding damage and the causes.
For now, Westport remained as vulnerable as it was in the July 2021 floods, he said.
"There is a flood coming: will we get the walls built in time? That's up to you people."
Councillor Brett Cummings said repair work had already been done on the historic flood defences, just east of Westport, to help with the next flood.
And councillor Frank Dooley defended council's expert approach to solve the problem, which it was required to do by statute, "not based on community opinion but on expert opinion".
Snodgrass Rd resident Paul Reynold, a trenchant critic at the way Westport's inland flood defences and the Orowaiti overflow had been left to deteriorate, suggested councils approach was "anything but expert".
The regional and the Buller District councils "had a hand in causing the flood".
"We've had three years of charade around avoiding the cause," Reynolds said.
"There has been no effort to define the cause of the 2021 flood - no problem can be solved without first identifying what caused the problem."
Reynolds said the underlying issues were identified and presented to both councils in 2015.
"Council already had a document by 2021 warning of the risk.
"It was ignored for six years … in the filing draw of council."
He suggested the current scheme, including flood defence walls, was not the best option.
"The walls will eventually burst in the event of a major flood - with the loss of life."
Regional council chief executive Darryl Lew said the Government's $22.9m contribution, announced a year ago, had now come through after a technical review found its scheme "was sound".
The money - in reality $15.6m for physical flood protection works - was now being drawn down and should be built by 2027.
He said the benefit classes for properties falling within the scheme will soon be be formally identified as the design is finalised.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
-
82.3% Yes
-
14.9% No
-
2.8% Other - I'll share below
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Today’s Riddle – Can You Outsmart Your Neighbours?
First you eat me, then you get eaten. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.