Renewed call for halt to housing after Maitai Valley floods
The Save the Maitai group has renewed its call for an end to plans for a housing development in Kākā Valley, after parts of the site were hit by flooding and slips.
Photos taken after the region was hammered by heavy rain last week indicated that part of the valley floor designated for housing had been flooded, while some other areas had been affected by slips.
Save the Maitai spokesperson Dr Aaron Stallard said continuing with plans to build on ‘‘a flood-prone river flat would be irresponsible’’.
‘‘Not only would the families living there be isolated and at risk, their homes could be uninsurable,’’ Stallard said. ‘‘The proposed subdivision would remove the functionality of the existing natural floodplain.’’
The developers – CCKV Maitai Development Co LP and Bayview Nelson Ltd – have hit back, calling the group’s statement ‘‘inappropriate opportunism’’.
‘‘We are devastated to see the impact of last week’s unprecedented rainfall on our neighbours, friends and whānau,’’ said the developers in a statement. ‘‘It disappoints us to see the inappropriate opportunism of [Save the Maitai] as they seek to use this very difficult time to further their members’ own interests.’’
Kākā Valley sits between the Maitai Valley and the hills above the Nelson suburb of Atawhai. The Maitai River, which flows along the Maitai Valley, burst its banks during the storm last week.
Stallard’s comments come after a hearing in July for a private plan change request to pave the way for the development. The plan change request is to rezone about 287ha of land within Kākā Valley and on the hills above Atawhai.
The hearing was before a panel of independent commissioners, who are now deliberating. Once those deliberations are complete, the commissioners are due to provide a recommendation to the Nelson City Council, which will then decide whether to approve the plan change request.
‘‘As we await the [recommendation] of the RMA commissioners, the land proposed for development has been underwater, and the hill slopes have suffered multiple slips and scoured gullies,’’ Stallard said.
The risk of flooding was one of Save the Maitai’s arguments against the proposed development.
‘‘A vulnerable floodplain is no place for a new suburb,’’ Stallard said, adding that the Maitai River had breached its banks on previous occasions.
The developers said some ‘‘opinions and statements’’ by the group were incorrect and misleading. Other matters raised were ‘‘ known and were thoroughly and conclusively considered and covered off by all the experts involved in providing expert advice and opinion to the experienced independent panel’’.
‘‘Given this matter is now in the hands of the appointed panel, it would be inappropriate to comment further,’’ the developers said.
A post-hearing updated stormwater management report, dated August 2022, from the developers’ consultant says requirements for stormwater management adopted for the area ‘‘will exceed or meet’’ the Nelson Tasman Land Development Manual stormwater section. The report is on the city council website.
Stallard said engineered alternatives did not always provide ‘‘reliable solutions, as seen in the recent flooding elsewhere in the region, where culverts have become blocked and stopbanks overflowed’’.
‘‘The proposal to build expensive infrastructure in this flood-prone area makes no sense in the time of a climate emergency, and when major insurers such as IAG are stating very clearly that building in flood-prone locations needs to stop, as the homes and businesses that are most exposed to flooding will find it difficult to obtain or afford insurance.’’
That view appeared to be shared by Local Government New Zealand, he said.
‘‘We call on Nelson City Council to take this advice on board urgently,’’ Stallard said.
‘‘This tragic flood event is a timely reminder to the RMA commissioners and Nelson City Council that housing should not be built on high-risk floodplains, and that this deeply flawed and unpopular proposal should finally be put to bed, once and for all.’’
Council group manager environmental management Clare Barton said that while the deliberations by the commissioners were under way, the council was unable to comment.