A year has passed since 175mm of rain fell in 24 hours in Dunedin, closing roads, inundating low-lying suburbs and causing millions of dollar of damage. While the floodwaters have long since receded, a psychological high-tide mark remains in the minds of those affected. Otago Daily Times Dunedin City Council reporters Vaughan Elder and Timothy Brown talk to those involved about the event and what the future holds.
After three cold nights sleeping in her car, Green Island resident Tina Conway is glad to have a roof over her head.
Ms Conway resorted to sleeping in her vehicle this week after her Green Island house was deemed unsafe in February and her insurance cover, which had been paying for her stay in a motel, ran out.
In yesterday's Otago Daily Times she blamed the Dunedin City Council for her plight, saying staff repeatedly failed to discover a council water main was leaking water on to her property causing a bank to slip away in the June 3 floods.
A second slip occurred in February.
Her insurer State Insurance held the council liable for the damage, but yesterday her insurance situation remained unresolved.
Following the story, the council contacted her and she accepted its offer of a three-bedroom house in Brighton Rd, paid for from the Mayoral Relief Fund, until her insurance issues were sorted.
A council spokesman said in a statement Mayor Dave Cull arranged two offers of accommodation for Ms Conway last week when she approached his office but she declined to pursue either of them.
Mr Cull also hit out at South Dunedin MP Clare Curran, saying she made a "political stunt'' out of Ms Conway's plight, by contacting the ODT, rather than contacting the council to resolve the situation.
Ms Conway said she was offered accommodation last week, but declined because she could not afford to pay rent while also paying the mortgage of her red-stickered home, which was owned by her ex-partner and her 9-year-old son Ariki.
"I couldn't afford to pay for a house that I can't live in and a rented house at the same time.''
However, she was pleased the council offered her a house free of charge yesterday, which meant she could live with her son and his four pet guinea pigs again.
She received the offer from council chief executive Sue Bidrose and communications and marketing manager Graham McKerracher, who she said apologised to her and said they were not aware of her ‘‘whole situation''.
It had been a "cold and uncomfortable'' three nights in her car, but she was pleased the council was finally "listening and helping''.
"I'm angry that I had to resort to [sleeping] in my car in order to listened to, but happy now that they acted.''
The council statement said that upon learning of Ms Conway's situation, Mr Cull asked Ms Bidrose to arrange accommodation and that was done within hours.
Mr Cull was "really pleased'' Ms Conway had taken up the offer, but said the matter could have been resolved at an earlier stage and even as late as Thursday, with a simple phone call.
"I am disappointed the MP for Dunedin South made a political stunt out of Ms Conway's desperate situation and thought it was better to have a vulnerable woman sleep in a car overnight rather than contact us to resolve the matter.''
Mr Cull said the issue of liability had been referred to the council's insurers.
"As such, the council cannot comment further in regard to liability or repairs at this time.''
Ms Curran said she was pleased Ms Conway had a roof over her head, but hoped there would be a "speedy'' solution to her insurance situation because until then her future remained uncertain.
The accusation she had made a "political stunt'' out of the situation was incorrect and it was Ms Conway's decision to go to the media.
Her office had been supporting Mrs Conway since February and the "sad fact of the matter'' was it sometimes took media attention to get authorities to act.
Cr Kate Wilson also took issue with Ms Curran's actions in an email to the ODT, but Ms Conway stood by Ms Curran and said Cr Wilson was unfairly "picking on Clare''.
