Council okays drains despite death
An Auckland Council review into the safety of drain covers following the death of teenager Violet Tupou has ruled they are safe for managing stormwater but lockable grates will be trialled.
The council ordered the two-part review after 17-year-old Tupou’s body was found lodged head-first in a stormwater drain in South Auckland in June.
It’s not known how Tupou came to be in the drain, but it is believed she may have been trying to retrieve a tennis ball.
Tupou, who was autistic, lived locally and was playing with other children when she died near Enuamanu Rd in Mangere.
Her death sparked a safety probe from Auckland Council into the drain covers, with questions from the young woman’s family and community leaders as to why they were not bolted down.
Community leader Lemauga Lydia Sosene earlier pleaded with council officials for action to be taken to prevent another tragedy.
“The crux of the issue is asking the council to review the design. Is there any way that these drain lids can be locked? I realise it’s difficult, with thousands across the region . . . but our children’s lives are worth it,” Sosene said.
Yesterday, the council released the review findings, confirming that “catchpits”, when used as designed, were safe for managing stormwater.
The review found although there were about 18,000 catchpits across the Auckland region, serious incidents were extremely rare.
It found that the likelihood of a person becoming stuck in a catchpit, leading to death, was rare and that none of the hazards associated with catchpits were considered high or of extreme risk.
However, the report identified other risks around catchpits that led to a series of recommendations being made to address these risks.
The recommendations included improving public awareness around the safest process for retrieving items from catchpits, and minimising the chance of blockages and flooding.
It also recommended the council design a lockable drain cover.
Auckland Council is trialling a spring-bar locking catchpit at two locations in South Auckland.
Director of infrastructure and environmental services Barry Potter said staff remained deeply saddened by Tupou’s death. Her family has requested privacy. “Our thoughts have very much been with Violet’s family, who now face their first Christmas without their precious daughter,” Potter said.
“This review highlighted that incidents involving catchpits are very rare, and that they are generally a safe piece of infrastructure. However, we are working closely with Auckland Transport to take steps to further enhance the safety of our catchpits.”
Over the past five years, Auckland Transport received 3513 service requests for repairs to catchpits.
Of the total requests, 2811 were for missing or dislodged catchpit grates and the remaining 702 were for broken catchpit grates, frames or backing plates.
Tupou’s death has been referred to the coroner.