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Rural advocates are calling for better management of the rural stormwater network.
At a Rural Advisory Panel on November 17, Rodney’s Cr Greg Sayers questioned whether having no asset management plan was an ideal situation.
“There is a gap here – we don’t look after the water tables, water channels and overland flow paths,” he said. “If we can do a better job, then we should be doing a better job.”
Sayers has been trying to get some answers on the issue after the vulnerabilities in the rural network became apparent during storm events.
“We might be going backwards in terms of overland water flow pathways being blocked and flooding upstream causing all sorts of difficulties – how do we get some teeth into this so compliance teams will get out there and educate these people [private landowners].”
Sayers asked if now was the time to start advocating for more funding through Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP)
Keeping drains, culverts and overland flow paths clear is the responsibility of either Auckland Transport (AT), Healthy Waters or private landowners.
AT and Healthy Waters representatives at the meeting admitted that some stormwater infrastructure was falling through the cracks.
AT’s road corridor maintenance manager, Alan Wallace, said funding maintenance for drains was extremely tight and he was not convinced the issue was that critical yet.
“I think we are seeing some improvement in how we maintain drainage as part of our normal unsealed road maintenance,” Wallace said.
“Small rural settlements have little to no stormwater infrastructure and they are getting more populated – people’s expectations are that they have a level of protection, which isn’t there.”
He said that infrastructure had previously been funded through targeted rates and he expected a return to that strategy.
Healthy Waters’ safe septic programme lead, Elizabeth Johnson, said many issues around flood vulnerability would be addressed through council’s Making Space for Water Strategy.
“Education is a big part of Making Space for Water – there are nine staff who will work on overland flow path compliance,” Johnson said.
She said many people were unaware of how doing something like building a fence could impact the overland flow path.
“There are requirements under the stormwater bylaw that require people to not impact other people with their overland flow path. The regulations are there, the enforcement has not been there.”
While the panel wanted better management across the board, Chair Andy Baker warned that more funding would mean trade-offs in council’s LTP.
“Everything comes with a cost and that cost has to be borne from somewhere,” Baker said.
“It would be really helpful for us to know how far you are prepared for your rates to go up or what other funding tools you are happy for council to use to pay for the things.”
The LTP will be open for public consultation next February.
