Councillors are hoping the city's next major flooding is far enough away to allow a newly-approved flooding fund to accumulate.

'I hope and pray that we don't have any substantial events over the next ten years,” says Steve Morris.

Photo: File.

'I would hope that my potential successor would look at utilising this fund when it gets to a suitable level, to fund infrastructure in the Mount wharf area.”

Kelvin Clout is also hoping the $2 million-a-year fund will have the chance to build up to a useful level, but he admits he would not focus it on any one particular area.

The fund is part of a multi-pronged approach to stormwater says Matt Cowley – the capital expenditure, as outlined in the Long Term Plan, and an annual $2 million that will provide a buffer.

'Some argue that will never be complete with the risk of changing climatic conditions,” says Matt.

The third prong will be the yet-to-be completed City Plan changes, on which Matt admits there is still plenty of work to do.

The reactive response capacity is adopted to help flood-affected landowners. In this year's Long Term Plan, council established a $2 million-per-year fund to support the community in a variety of risk reduction methods and responses following floods.

The fund accompanies the new management policy to floods that favours ‘safety to persons' as opposed to ‘safety to property'.

It concentrates on reducing recognised flood risks over time, enabling ratepayers to make informed decisions.

The policy provides guidelines to staff in administering the fund, taking a whole of catchment approach. The fund could be used to clean up a catchment whether the damage is to private or public property.

The fund also provides scope for buying possibly flood-prone property under specific conditions, and for works with landowners to undertake on-site initiatives to reduce flooding.

Council may provide community support through the release of the fund, or parts of it, for emergency clean-up costs after a flood.

The fund could also help pay for council contractor costs to support the community in emergency clean-up operations, and support landowners in following intense rainfall events resulting in flooding on property and flooding to habitable floors.

The draft policy went out for public consultation on August 10, and closed on October 23.

All 205 ratepayers who submitted on stormwater in the Long Term Plan consultation were sent a letter informing them of the policy and inviting them to submit.