Council coordinates huge clean up after flood

The rain may have stopped but the clean-up work in the wake of flooding in Kāpiti has continued over the weekend.

Council staff and contractors have been working most of the weekend, pumping out the worst effected homes, clearing slips, checking infrastructure, parks and walking tracks. 

Council contacted more than 20 evacuated residents on Friday. We understand most have returned to their homes but five households are still staying with friends or families or in motels.

The district received twice the average rainfall for a month in just one day. A total of 143.6 mm of rain fell over our district in 24 hours on May 14, compared to an average of 78mm for the month of May.

Links to Wellington were cut off; trains ground to a halt, buses stopped and roads were blocked.

At the peak of the flooding council’s Emergency Operations Centre was activated and 50 staff and volunteers coordinated the response.

Council depot staff were supplemented in the field by 55 staff from contractor Goodmans who helped with sandbags. Downer had 50 to 60 staff helping out, including crews from Levin and Porirua. Staff from the M2PP alliance, building the Expressway, were also on hand to lend a hand.

 Current road status

• Otaki Gorge Road is open after a large slip was cleared. 
• Waterfall Rd will remain closed. Around 2000 to 3000m3 of slip material is being removed. Work will continue today and tomorrow. 
• Valley Rd  Road opened after being closed for surface flooding and debris. 
• Maungakotukutuku Rd is open. Work on flood damage will continue into next week. 
• Matatua Road, Raumati Beach opened at 6pm last night. The urban road is open in both directions and footpath open with minor restrictions. The road and footpath were partially undermined by floodwaters at the site of a large culvert and a large sink hole opened up nearby. Contractor Goodmans worked all day at the site.

 On-going status/activity 

• Water levels have fallen in most streams/drains with the exception of the Mazengarb drain. This is      being monitored but should return to normal once storm detention ponds further upstream recede.

• Standby crews and additional staff have been pumping out the last of the worst affected houses in Moa Road, Titoki Street, Manly Street and industrial area at Magrath Ave.
• The BMX track on Donovan Road was pumped out when council received a request, as a national competition is being hosted there today.
• All sewer, storm water and water reticulation networks are operating as normal.
• Assistance was provided to some properties where septic tanks were overwhelmed during the deluge and this work will be on going this week.
• We are systematically checking all parks, reserves, walking tracks and carrying out repairs, as required.
• Parks and reserves are still pretty sodden but some were able to open for weekend sport.

Mayor Ross Church says residents affected by the flooding will continue to be supported by the council and community and the repair work will continue for some time.

“We are moving from response to recovery. The event may have only lasted 24-hours but the resulting damage could take months to repair.  We are grateful the bad weather did not last longer and I am immensely proud of the way our community showed true grit and resilience facing this unexpected challenge.”

Mayor Church says the cost of the response to the flooding will be known in the next couple of weeks but the total cost of the damage will take longer to determine.