South Dunedin's infrastructure "clearly" had problems coping with heavy rain and rising water tables, the Labour MP said today.
"In the aftermath of some of the most serious flooding the city has ever experienced, serious questions should also be asked about whether a local state of emergency should have been called on Wednesday night as the flooding deepened in the heart of South Dunedin."
"Leaving aside the debate about whether sandbags were an effective way to mitigate internal flooding of homes and businesses, there was a concerted volunteer effort underway for much of Wednesday night at the St Kilda Life Saving Club which became a de facto first response team.
"They encountered numerous people who had flooded homes. While the fire service and police did a sterling job reacting where they could, many people were left to their own devices overnight.
South Dunedin had many elderly, disabled and low income families who struggled to cope with the flooding, she said, and an urgent assessment of the situation needed to be done now.
"It's heartening that the Mayor has agreed changes are needed," Ms Curran said.
