Flooding fear: too scared to leave home
Murrey Lilley starts panicking when the weather forecast predicts rain.
The Auckland man goes into a frenzy, trying to secure his backyard from flooding with sand bags and checking the drains are unblocked.
This has been his routine for the past 15 years – ever since the family bought a newly-built house in Te Atatu¯ .
‘‘We can’t go on holidays because we worry we don’t know what’s going to happen while we are away.’’
Water runs off a neighbouring Housing New Zealand (HNZ) home into his property each time it rains, he said. Auckland Council was investigating the flooding issue and an engineer had visited Lilley to provide advice. The council and HNZ told him it was the natural lie of the land and water run-off was expected, he said.
Lilley said the family had spent thousands of dollars to reduce the water run-off, including installing a water pump, retention tanks and drainage materials.
Working on a rainy day was stressful because he worried he would return home to flooding. Earlier this year, Lilley’s daughter missed a university exam because she had to stay home during heavy rain.
‘‘We can't go on holidays because we worry we don't know what's going to happen while we are away.’’
Lilley said the flooding also caused anxiety which affected his health.
He said he only learned the property was located on an overland flow path when the engineer visited. The property’s LIM report showed it was not in a flood sensitive area.
Auckland Council healthy waters general manager Craig Mcilroy said they were investigating complaints about flooding issues.
Lilley’s home was on an overland flow path, which is the route taken by water when the drainage network is overloaded. The HNZ property neighbouring Lilley’s home was built in 1959, before there was significant overland flow path mapping.
‘‘One of our engineers has been to the property to discuss options that can help the homeowner deal with the water if the problem persists.
Properties affected by an overland flow path or flood plain are included within the LIM’s special land features map, he said.