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Auckland Council will increase its surveillance of flood-prone areas on the Hibiscus Coast, via hot spot cameras.
Four cameras will be positioned in Whangaparāoa, where stormwater infrastructure overflowed in last year’s floods.
In total, 56 flood hot spot cameras will be installed around Auckland, joining an existing network that is being expanded as a result of funding approved in the Long-term Plan (budget).
Locally, there will be two cameras in Stanmore Bay – at the Knott Road end of D’Oyly Reserve, and on the corner of Brightside Road and Kauri Road, as well as Ferry Road, Stormwater Pond Reserve in Arkles Bay, and Kukuwai Avenue near Red Beach Road.
Healthy Waters general manager, Craig Mcilroy, says the cameras are part of improving the way council manages stormwater and protects people and property from flooding.
He says the hot spots selected are known flood risks, because debris often builds up, causing blockages. They are usually associated with stormwater pipe inlet grilles.
“This technology will eventually allow our contractors to clear blockages as soon as they are detected,” Mcilroy says. “While they will take time to establish, we anticipate these cameras will eventually automate a notification to our on-call operations staff when debris is building up, or we’re seeing a higher flow of water.”
The cameras should be installed within the next six months.
Council is also reliant on residents to report blockages to stormwater infrastructure. At a Hibiscus and Bays Local Board workshop on May 14, Healthy Waters’ staff discussed encouraging homeowners to prepare their homes for winter storms, as well as to report any stormwater infrastructure blockages via the council call centre, especially if urgent.
