Storm cleanups costly for Manawatu¯ District Council
‘‘Some of this damage happened to roads that were scheduled for maintenance anyway. Why borrow when we have cash in the bank?’’
The repair bill for roads in Manawatu¯ District has stretched to $5.6 million over two years as frequent storms continue to lash the region.
Roads were again busted and broken during a rain storm on September 5, with the damage costing the district council $1.1m. It comes only three months after June’s snowstorm, which yielded a $1m bill. Last July, a snowstorm left behind a $3.5m trail of destruction.
The hefty and frequent big-figure cheques have prompted officials to borrow $2.5m over the past two years, worrying some councillors.
Instead of the council borrowing its $316,500 share to repair September’s mess, councillor and accountant Stuart Campbell believed it should have turned to its reserve fund, established during the 2018-2028 Long-term Plan to provide emergency repairs during extreme weather events.
Councillors set aside $430,000 earlier this year, but have again opted to borrow instead.
‘‘We should not be borrowing for this type of work. We have budgets.
‘‘Some of this damage happened to roads that were scheduled for maintenance anyway.
‘‘Why borrow when we have cash in the bank?’’
Corporate and regulatory general manager Shayne Harris said officials could dip into their cash reserves, ‘‘but then there would be no reserves’’.
On September 5, Horizons Regional Council recorded 100 millimetres of rainfall within 24 hours, near the Ruahine Range. A typical month’s rainfall is 90mm.
The rain continued on and off for four days, crippling several rural roads in the northeastern part of the district.
‘‘The extent of the damage was exacerbated by waterlogged land ... from a similar event which occurred in June,’’ asset management team leader Darryn Black said.
Drains and culverts were blocked and washed out, while roads were crippled by landslides, fallen trees, dropouts and flood debris.
The New Zealand Transport Agency is covering $855,700 of the September bill.