Frustration with ongoing flooding

Residents in a Taranaki town experiencing ongoing flooding issues will be sleeping with one eye open with more rain forecast in the region.

On Sunday night heavy rain caused a torrent of water to run through properties on Waitara’s Browne St about 8.20pm.

Residents say there are ongoing issues with flooding along the street every time there is heavy rain, and the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) is aware of the situation.

In a written statement, NPDC manager three waters Mark Hall said no issues regarding Sunday night’s flooding had been reported.

‘‘Now that we’re aware of the issue in Browne St, we’ll be checking a stormwater pipe to see if it’s clear,’’ Hall said.

‘‘We checked and cleared a blockage in this pipe in 2018 after being contacted by residents.’’

Hall said the council was investing $9m on significant stormwater improvement projects in the town during the next six years.

The local fire brigade was called to the scene where one property had about 200 millimetres-deep flood water streaming through the section and garage.

Raewyn James said in the past 12 months her property had been flooded four times.

‘‘It happens a lot of the time when we get heavy rain,’’ James said.

‘‘You can’t sleep because you are always worried and looking out the window.’’

James said it was frustrating because she couldn’t use her garage or the spare bedroom attached to it because the flood water came up very quickly and just flowed through them.

‘‘I looked out the window and there was no water but about 15 minutes later it was flooded.

‘‘I was told by one of the workmen that the pipes were not big enough to cope with all of the water.’’

She said something needed to be done with the drainage issues along the street.

Neighbour Melle Hargreaves said there had been ongoing problems for the seven years she has lived on the street.

‘‘Every time we get heavy rain we flood,’’ Hargreaves said.

‘‘It’s just been a continuous problem because of a drainage issue.’’

She said the water could reach knee height and something needed to be done to fix the problem, which caused constant concern.

‘‘Water has been coming up to the bottom of car doors. We just always wonder if it’s going to get inside.’’

The MetService was forecasting heavy rain yesterday afternoon, with squally thunderstorms today easing to showers tomorrow.

ANDY JACKSON/STUFF Josiah Hargreaves, 3, helps clean up the mess after heavy rain caused flooding on Waitara’s Browne St on Sunday night. His brother Malachi Hargreaves, 13, works in the background.

Raewyn James has been left feeling frustrated by ongoing flooding issues at her Browne Street, Waitara, home.