Quarter of a billion dollars to fix all Kāpiti’s flood problems

By Alan Tristram

Kāpiti’s Mayor, K Gurunathan, says it’s sobering to know that more than a quarter of the district’s properties are a risk of being flooded.

And KIN says that it’s even more sobering to note the long-term costs could be a quarter of a billion dollars.

The Mayor’s assessment has come at a workshop on the Council’s long-term plan.

How can properties be protected?

Schemes to protect Kāpiti properties from flooding were among topics discussed by councillors.

The district’s stormwater system handles the surface water that runs off roads, driveways and footpaths in urban areas, with measures in place to manage the water quality that flows downstream.

“No one is debating that managing flood risks in the face of increasingly wet and wild weather is a challenge for the district,” says the Mayor.

A question of prioritisation

The question is where to start to ensure we address the areas of greatest need first.”

He says: “Following a severe storm in 2015, a significant investigation and prioritisation exercise was undertaken, which has resulted in the development of a more extensive programme of works.

“We’d love to get the whole programme completed as soon as possible but the price tag is hefty, at nearly $240 million.

“We’ll be seeking input from our communities on progressing with the new programme.  We’ll do this as part of our long term plan community consultation, which gets underway towards the end of next month.”

At the next Council long-term plan workshop tomorrow , councillors will continue to discuss details of the plan.  Council says the public are welcome to observe these presentations and discussions.