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Stanmore Bay resident Alethea Courtenay is cautiously optimistic following news that Auckland Council has committed to boosting maintenance of the stream that runs through Stanmore Bay Reserve.
Courtenay’s property was badly affected by flooding during both the Anniversary Weekend storm and Cyclone Gabrielle. She believes the blocked waterway flowing through council and private properties was a contributing factor, with debris, vegetation, and mangrove overgrowth significantly reducing the stream’s capacity to cope with heavy rain, (Hibiscus Matters, March 11, 2025),
Last week, council confirmed it will carry out targeted maintenance of the public section of the stream. Crews will clear low-hanging mangrove branches, seedlings, and debris from the bridge near 150 Brightside Road through to the stream’s natural outflow in Stanmore Bay, with work scheduled to be completed by May 15.
“I’m very pleased, if they can do their jobs, then we can do what we need to do to keep the stream clear and flowing,” Courtenay says.
Following the coverage in Hibiscus Matters, several nearby residents reached out to share similar worries, she says.
Council will also increase ongoing maintenance. The stream reserve will be serviced every three months, with vegetation along the banks trimmed and any new blockages removed.
“We know how important it is for communities to trust that their local infrastructure is cared for,” said Healthy Waters & Flood Resilience head of operations Andrew Skelton.
“By stepping up stream maintenance, we’re helping reduce the risk of blockages and flooding during storms.”
However, Skelton had earlier confirmed that the section of stream behind Langton Road that runs through private land, is not actively maintained by the council. Responsibility for this falls to adjacent property owners, and he advised neighbours to work together to help keep the watercourse clear.
Since speaking to Hibiscus Matters, Courtenay said she reached out to council for advice and assistance on how to manage her section of the stream. However, she was disappointed to discover that she could have applied for financial aid to help with flood assistance prior to September 2024, but was unaware it was available.
