Flooding plea
Impassioned pleas from village residents have forced the Manawatu District Council to undertake a district-wide stormwater review.
Submissions from Halcombe, Tangimoana and Cheltenham community committees said flooding was becoming increasingly worse as blocked drains and idle ditches put residents’ homes in danger.
In other years the council had also heard from Himatangi Beach and Rongotea.
The topic was a bone of contention during Annual Plan deliberations, with councillors and residents saying enough is enough.
The council intended to undertake a review of its stormwater networks as part of its 2018/2028 Long Term Plan, however pressure from the community has brought it forward to this year.
The council will then make a decision on the extent of the work, affordability and funding options as part of the Long Term Plan.
In a submission to the council, Tangimoana Community Committee chairman Brice Ebert said the town was growing impatient.
Little proactive action had occurred since last year’s submission and the community was ‘‘placated’’ with clearing the drains, he said.
‘‘We have no clear course of action or progress for major works. As a result the community feels the council are apathetic to their concerns.’’
Councillor Alison Short said the council failed to deliver a $15,000 promise to Tangimoana residents last year to maintain their drainage system.
General manager of infrastructure Hamish Waugh said the council would need about $500,000 to repair the coastal villages.
‘‘The problem is the area is very flat - it’s a bowl almost. The water just sits in the drain. It’s not a matter of just sitting in a digger for one or two days.’’
Halcombe Community Committee chairwoman Rachel Lane had noticed several flooding issues, which had become ‘‘increasingly worse’’.
Houses along Ingham St were flooding frequently and not even in heavy rain. The surrounding drains had become less effective due to build up and overgrowth, she said.
The culvert, which intersects Ingham St and Stanway Rd, is also higher than the surrounding land, causing water to build up and overflow onto properties before through the culvert.