Tauranga flood victims will be back at Tauranga City Council chambers tomorrow to hear the decision on their appeal to fix the city's stormwater systems.
Council today heard from members of the community hit hard by the April floods and will tomorrow decide whether to proceed with the $40million five-year flood remediation programme.
Nicola and Michael Fisk at council.
Tony Haslett tells councillors about flooding in Mount Maunganui.
Matua and Mount Maunganui flood victims presented a picture of neighbourhoods on the verge of revolt, with Tony Haslett from Commons Avenue in Mount Maunganui telling councillors that legal action is possible.
Mike Fisk told how his insurance company is resisting paying out on more flood damage, saying that even though the house complies with the city council requirements, it doesn't meet building standards.
There's no record of the land being flood prone on the LIM report, even though he's now learned of floods prior to the 2005 flood that required the house being re-floored.
He is now suffering from an auto immune disease, can no longer work and is subject to constant pain and stress. The mortgage is more than the house is worth.
Sarah Tapsell says the torrent that flows through their Matua property could easily drown someone. She's got three young children who get worried when it rains, and a house that's begun growing black mould following the flood in April this year.
Tony Haslett told councillors the Commons Avenue and Grace Avenue areas pay high rates, the council has taken the development contributions, and went ahead paving over the soakage with infill development without up grading the infrastructure.
On advice from the council drainage service manager the flood prone Mount Maunganui properties have begun putting humps in driveways and buying pumps, at a cost of $12,000-$15,000.
But all that will do is put the water back onto the street where the inadequate council stormwater system will have to deal with it, says Tony.
He criticised the council proposing to spend money on the ‘nice to have' Phoenix carpark redevelopment - 'but it doesn't have the money to fix the water system”.
'Put the money where your core interests are, water and roads.”
Council will debate the stormwater issue at 10am.
5 comments
Not a good idea to pave over everything
Posted on 11-12-2013 18:56 | By Phailed1
Looking at some of the more gross columned mansions around the Mount area, it seems some people have got rid of all the grass and have created concrete empires. No wonder there is flooding. But it's a good point that flood prevention should come before the frilly things.
Walk It Off
Posted on 12-12-2013 07:23 | By Disappointed
If Mount residents are feeling a little stressed because of the ongoing flooding of their homes they should take a nice relaxing stroll along the boardwalk at Pilot Bay. Only then will they come to understand the wisdom (sic) of Council expenditure.
Where is the developer?
Posted on 12-12-2013 13:14 | By Crash test dummies
And all the profits?????? Why is it that run to the ratepayers cheque to fix there own problems ....
Special rate only
Posted on 12-12-2013 13:50 | By Crash test dummies
For those affected is fair as will allow them to pay for over inflated value of property without affect upon others
@JAFFA
Posted on 13-12-2013 05:43 | By Sambo Returns
hang on a bloody minute, these are not the only areas affected by an inefficient storm water system, I know of buildings 75 years and older constantly being inundated with water from "once in a 100 year floods", these people are standing up rightly for a DECENT storm water system, after all the Council has taken money and granted consents to developers, so if through their ineptitude we are left with an inadequate system, it is a Council problem, our rates need to be spent on priorities, decent infrastructure should be at the top of the list.
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