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Locals took charge when it came to unblocking stormwater drains, which quickly filled with sand blown in by the cyclonic winds.
In Arkles Bay, the pontoon blew into a position where it blocked the drain. Residents used shovels and even their bare hands to keep it clear.
On Manly Beach, Phil Martell cleared a drain which was covered by sand himself, then kept a close watch on it during the next high tide.
Alongside Manly Sailing Club, a group of young people worked hard to clear the boat ramp of debris, until Ben Hickmer from Coastscapes volunteered to complete the task.
Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters division looks after stormwater infrastructure and Council is proposing to allocate more money for storm response activities, to increase preparedness for severe weather events.
Announcing the proposed extra funding, on February 15, Mayor Wayne Brown said the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, on top of unprecedented rainfall and flooding, has strengthened his resolve “to fix Auckland’s infrastructure and stop wasteful spending”.
The final addition to the budget proposal notes that Council “may need to make additional provision in operating budgets for proactive and reactive storm response activity. This could include more regular clearing of drains as well as increased provision for things such as emergency management, waste disposal, building inspections and support for affected people”.
The proposal suggests budgeting $20 million each year, equivalent to 1 percent of rates.
“To be sustainable, this could mean a higher rates increase, as it would not be appropriate to continually borrow to pay for cleaning the drains on a regular basis,” the proposal reads.
The budget goes out for consultation this month (see story)
What is happening on Ōrewa Beach?
Shoreline erosion was felt everywhere on the Coast – perhaps at its most dramatic on Ōrewa Beach where trees along Ōrewa Reserve had their roots exposed. There was also severe damage at the northern end of the beach where a seawall is to be built. As an interim fix, Auckland Council contractors shifted sand from the estuary end to shore up damaged areas, starting on February 15, unleashing a flood of comments from the community who do not agree with the sand-shifting. Area operations manager, Kris Bird says Council’s arborists assessed the trees and believe that they are not at risk of imminent failure. He says the sand shifting, which will take two weeks, provides a buffer and will make the beach usable again. Gary Brown says the local board will be discussing the Ōrewa Beach erosion issues with Council staff.
