5 May 2005

Staged Programme Of Works To Address Wainuiomata Flooding

A report to Hutt City Council's Operations & Compliance Committee should go some way towards addressing community concerns about flooding in and around Black Creek in Wainuiomata, said Cr Margaret Cousins, Committee Chair.

The report notes spending of $2.5 million included in the Draft Community Plan (05/06 and 06/07 financial years) for flooding improvement work on Black Creek. The work includes: * A 100 year average recurrence interval (ARI) capacity downstream of the Best St bridge * A 50 year ARI capacity downstream of Nelson Crescent Bridge * A 50 year ARI capacity downstream of the Fitzherbert Road culvert and the Parkway Drain.

"Our engineers have attempted to prioritise the programme of works to achieve optimum results with the funds available, said Cr Cousins.

"There will be those who say this is still not enough but we need to balance priorities across the city and across various capital projects up for consideration as part of the Community Plan process.

"We also need to be realistic about what physical works can be delivered, given the very tight contractors market that we are facing in the Wellington region."

The report notes additional flood protection works, totalling $2.55 million, would deliver a 50 year ARI overall capacity for Black Creek. A further $5 million would raise this up to a 100 year ARI overall capacity.

The course of Black Creek was substantially altered during the original development of urban areas in Wainuiomata. While it was originally designed to cope with a 50 year ARI, a report to Council in February 1996 identified that much of the Creek channel could only cope with a 30 year ARI before overtopping.

The Committee will consider the report and make recommendations to Council for consideration at its 24 May meeting.

ENDS

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