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A full moon and high tide caused a Dunedin street to resemble more of a river than a road last week.
Water from the Andersons Bay Inlet flooded Marne St on Thursday evening, causing the road to be closed.
Marne Street Hospital facility manager Barbara Boylen said she had spoken to Dunedin City Council staff about it ‘‘some time ago’’ and hoped it would have another look at the ongoing issue.
The council says it will do that.
Ms Boylen was unsure whether anything was being done to mitigate the flooding, which she said occurred several times a year, but had been particularly bad last week.
‘‘Maybe it is a good time for [the council] to start looking at it.’’
Luckily, the aged care hospital was slightly elevated above the road, which had prevented the flood water from entering the facility, she said.
But the salt water was often pushed into the garden by cars driving through the flood water, which killed plants.
‘‘We are used to replacing and we have built up the garden a bit to try to minimise that.’’
It was potentially worse for the houses on the opposite side of the road, who were not as elevated, she said.
‘‘The traffic goes through it not realising it is salt water and pushes waves over [on to those properties]. ‘‘Given it affects so many people you would think the council would come and have a look.’’
A council spokesman said it was aware of the recent flooding and that it occurred due to high tides and low-lying land in that area.
Signs were put up in the area each time it flooded to slow traffic and prevent water being pushed on to neighbouring properties. Council staff would discuss other mitigation options with residents and hospital staff, he said.