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As the anniversary of the Auckland Anniversary weekend floods approaches, Auckland Council is encouraging property owners to take steps to help reduce flood risks, while continuing its own efforts to mitigate the risk in low-lying parts of Red Beach and Stanmore Bay that were particularly badly affected last year.
Last August, Council’s Healthy Waters (stormwater) department upgraded grilles in D’Oyly Reserve and at the Kauri Road-Brightside Road intersection, both of which had proven to be problem areas.
“The new grille features horizontal bars that are spaced at the maximum allowable width to reduce the risk of blockages,” Healthy Waters head of operations Andrew Skelton said. “It is checked for debris monthly, as well as before and after forecast heavy storms.”
Skelton said drains and culverts at other sites on the Hibiscus Coast are also checked regularly. Among them, those at William Bayes Park in Red Beach and the Kauri-Brightside crossroads are inspected monthly, before and after forecast heavy storms.
Council is encouraging residents to take precautionary steps themselves as well. If an overland flow path – the natural course water takes across the land – runs through a property, it should be kept clear so water can flow freely. Private drains and waterways should also be kept free from debris, to enable water to flow unimpeded.
(To find out if an overland flow path runs through a property, use council’s online Flood Viewer: http://bit.ly/41wfVud )
Residents should also report any public stormwater-related issues to council on 09 301 0101.
During the heavy rains in Auckland and Northland in late January last year, a combination of large quantities of water and debris buildup in the D’Oyly Reserve saw a number of properties inundated.
Skelton said subsequently that even if debris had not washed down from the wider catchment area and blocked passage, the sheer amount of water would have been too much to drain away and it would have overtopped the reserve (HM, March 20, 2023).
He described the weir and grille at the reserve as a “critical hotspot” that was regularly inspected and cleared, adding that council had cleared it six times between January 26 – a day before the severe weather event began – and mid-February.
More flooding occurred during heavy rainfalls on May 9-10, causing flooding in Pūhoi, Dairy Flat and Ōrewa as well as parts of Whangaparāoa. There were landslips in Manly and prompting the closure of schools, the Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre, and council offices in Centreway Road, Ōrewa. The event again raised questions about the capacity of the area’s stormwater infrastructure.
Council says that the drier El Niño forecast means the likelihood of a repeat of the extreme weather events hitting Auckland this summer is low. However, it still pays to be prepared, and residents should regularly clear gutters and check and unblock drains on their property.
“Summer storms can be a surprise to many people due to the speed they happen and their unexpected nature,” Auckland Emergency Management general manager Paul Amaral said, adding that they can be dangerous, even if short-lived.
“This is due to rain intensity and the potential for strong winds and tornadoes that sometimes accompany them. A little bit of planning in advance and maintenance around your home can help mitigate their effects.”
