Deep trouble

Motueka township is protected by 60 year old flood banks which engineers say are substandard and could possibly fail when exposed to a serious storm flood. Extreme weather events are happening more often and with increasing intensity.

Hundreds of homes could be flooded, with subsequent evacuations, including the hospital with 70 residents, most very senior and some very frail.

If this happened, the TDC would be directly responsible for the disaster and the massive financial and social cost. They have procrastinated for 10 years now, and are still finding every reason possible to avoid starting repairs.

It can be avoided. The banks need reinforcing with a new inner bank built up against the old wall, suitably compacted. Most of the raw material needed is on hand.

It is not such a massive job as the TDC would have us believe. The TDC should forget projects that benefit a few, in the case of the dam, and instead, start protecting ratepayers. The cost should be spread across all TDC residents, just as Motueka has financially supported other areas.