18 June 2013

Council ready to assist throughout bad weather

Christchurch City Council staff and contractors are out across the city today gathering information and helping to tidy-up streets and drains following the heavy rain of the past few days.

An average month’s rain fell in just one day on Monday (17 June 2013), which caused significant surface flooding and affected homes in some areas. Council’s Transport and Greenspace Unit Manager John Mackie says the city experienced a one in 10-year rainfall. The fact the rain did not stop for several days added pressure to drainage networks.

“There were areas of the city, particularly in the Flockton Basin at St Albans, that were significantly affected but by-and-large the storm water network coped well city-wide. We’re already well-progressed on investigation work into the extent of earthquake damage to Dudley Creek in St Albans and the information about flooding impacts we collect today will help determine long-term options for repair in the area.

“In anticipation of winter rainfall, the Council had already carried out maintenance work to remove silt and increase capacity in waterways and creeks across the city, including 7km in Dudley Creek, Bings Drain, St Albans Creek and Shirley Stream. While the earthquakes have affected land levels in these areas, rainfall of this duration would have caused flooding issues even before the earthquakes. We have a team of Council staff and contractors visiting homes in these areas today to survey flood levels and take information that will help inform our ongoing investigations,” Mr Mackie says.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says addressing flooding issues in this area and across the city is an urgent priority for the Council.

“These areas have historically flooded during heavy rainfall but we know this has been exacerbated by earthquake damage. It is a very high priority for this Council to progress investigations in these areas and work out what we need to do to return drainage systems to pre-earthquake levels of service. We want a solution and fast. This is a complex situation and we are working to find short-term solutions and plan for longer-term permanent repairs.”

If you are not home today, but would like to report flooding on your property, please call the Council on (03) 941 8999 and ask to speak to the land drainage team.

Snow forecast later this week
While the tidy-up work is ongoing today, the Council is also preparing to respond to forecast snow later in the week if required.

“We are checking drains are clear and we have contractors briefed and on stand-by to respond to the snow if necessary. We are monitoring weather forecasts closely and will be ready if the snow arrives as predicted,” Mr Mackie says.

The Council advises all residents to make plans and preparations to ensure they are able to cope through the bad conditions. It is important for people living in areas at risk from snowstorms to consider the need extra food supplies and alternative forms of heating and power generation.

For guidelines on preparations in advance of heavy snowfall please visit www.ccc.govt.nz/homeliving/civildefence/bereadygetthru.aspx

For up to the minute weather forecast details please visit
www.metservice.com

ENDS

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