Business owners: ‘in the dark’ on flood work
CLUTHA District Council (CDC) will look at improving communications with the Lawrence community after town businesses expressed anxiety at the pace of flood works.
At a LawrenceTuapeka Community Board meeting on Wednesday afternoon, concerned resident Gordon Duthie presented a straw poll survey of local businesses.
The 18respondent survey focused on business confidence after a flood that inundated Lawrence’s main street in June last year.
Although the majority had been ‘‘extremely positive’’ about the council’s initial response, a perceived lack of progress in fixing underlying drainage issues meant perception had become ‘‘negative’’ as time went on, Mr Duthie said.
Business confidence as a result of the flood averaged less than five out of 10, and 83% of respondents thought the CDC’s longerterm response was ‘‘poor’’.
Talking to the Otago Daily Times Thursday, Wild Walnut Cafe owners Jim Merrill and Sue Bertram said the lack of confidence was caused by trying to do business ‘‘in the dark’’.
During the June 21 flood, water rose to 800mm in the cafe, which has since reopened.
‘‘You see bits of work being done, but there’s no perception among local people of how those fit into a bigger plan. When it rains you always have the risk of flooding in . . . your mind, and that makes business planning and confidence hard to effect,’’ Mr Merrill said.
He said a repeat flood would leave them with no choice but to move on, which they did not want.
Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan said although he understood residents’ anxieties, the council wanted to ‘‘get [the solution] right, first time’’.
‘‘We’ve definitely taken Mr Duthie’s point on board and perhaps we could have articulated the process we’ve started, and are now working through, better . . . However, we want to ensure a lasting, townwide solution that’s fit for purpose.’’
In February, the CDC had published a flood works plan in local media, and again in longterm plan documentation in April.
Mr Cadogan said it would now look at more regular updates.
Mr Duthie said there were simple steps the council should take.
‘‘They need to make a plan available, with timeframes for work, then maintain regular communications on both remedial work and futureproofing . . . there’s an opportunity here for us all to move forward positively.’’