Friday 16 May 2014

Updated Flooding Taskforce technical report online as flood mitigation work continues

Residents can now go online to easily view detailed information in the Mayoral Taskforce for Flooding technical report on the catchment area specific to them.

The technical report has been divided into easy to read sections (Appendix A and B) where residents can read through detailed area reports and the flood defence tools proposed to help with flood mitigation in their particular area.

For example, residents in the Dudley Creek will find in ‘Appendix A’ further information about existing studies and history of the area, drainage infrastructure in place, flooding causes, social impact of improvements and protection measure opportunities for the Dudley Creek area. Then in ‘Appendix B’ they can read about the specific flood protection tools that will be used for flood mitigation in their area.

Mayor Lianne Dalziel says, “We want residents to have access to further technical details of the flood mitigation work in their community.

“The Taskforce team has been asked to focus all its energy on flood mitigation work that will benefit residents right now.”

The Taskforce’s technical report to the Council a can be viewed on the Council website at www.ccc.govt.nz/floodmitigation

Flooding Taskforce staff will continue to identify key flood mitigation work in the most at risk areas of Christchurch, in order to protect those properties and homes identified as most vulnerable by the recent Mayoral Taskforce on Flooding report.

Work happening right now:

Channel widening / bank modification – Dudley Creek:
Channel widening has started along Banks Avenue on Council-owned land. In parts of the creek identified by the Flooding Taskforce, the bank has been widened by approximately 1.5 metres at the bottom and sloped back to be about 3 meters wider at top of the bank. This is a big increase in capacity and will improve water-flow in problem areas of the creek.

Vegetation removal – Dudley Creek:
Vegetation within the channel that is either causing blockages or is compromising the channel width has been taken out ahead of the sediment removal. The Council contractors are continuing this work between Stapleton's Road and North Parade.

Tree removals – Dudley Creek:
Targeted tree removal from Council-owned land has taken place along Banks Avenue. Only trees identified as dead, diseased or impeding essential flood mitigation work are being removed.

Surveying – Shirley:
The Council survey team is working on establishing property/stream boundaries along Banks Avenue and North Parade. This information will help with clarification so work can begin. The Council’s property team is about to start discussions with property owners regarding boundaries that may be affected by channel widening and/or vegetation removal.

Work completed this week:

Sediment removal – Dudley Creek:
Work to remove silt has finished in the first reach of Dudley Creek below Hills Road. Council Contractors have removed silt from the waterway bed to Julius Terrace, plus numerous vegetation blockages. They have excavated on average a 400 millimetres depth of sediment. Paths will be resurfaced and exposed soil/bank areas grassed by today Friday 16 May.

Sump and pipe jet cleaning – Lower Heathcote:
Council contractors have completed cleaning sumps, pipes and flap-gates in Clarendon and Richardson terraces.

Temporary pump-station design
Members of the Taskforce team met with contractors and consultant engineers on Tuesday 13 May to discuss initial concept designs of a temporary pump station for the Flockton/Dudley Creek area.

Community meetings
Community meetings in each of the affected areas will be held in the coming weeks where residents can find out further information and provide feedback. Further information on these meetings will be available early next week and will be posted on the Council’s website at www.ccc.govt.nz/floodmitigation

Targeted information database
The Taskforce is currently updating its contact information databases for all affected residents in the identified flood-prone areas. Once complete, this will allow the Council to relay up-to-date information to residents about flood mitigation work in each area, weather updates, temporary traffic management plans and all other associated information to residents.

To be included on the database, residents can forward their contact details to the Council by email at floodmitigation@ccc.govt.nz. They can also call the Customer Call Centre on (03) 941 8999 or 0800 800 169 and leave their contact information with a member of staff.

For further information on flood mitigation work, residents can call the Customer Call Centre on (03) 941 8999 or 0800 800 169 or email queries to floodmitigation@ccc.govt.nz

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