Proposed flood protection works to protect a small group of Mosgiel residents, is opposed by a Riccarton Rd couple.
The Otago Regional Council has proposed in its draft long- term plan to build a single bund with a swale and box culvert underneath Riccarton Rd, to give 15 properties around Riccarton, Dukes and Gordon roads a limited amount of protection.
Speaking to the Otago Regional Council's draft plan hearing yesterday, Ivan Glass, also on behalf of his wife Belinda, said he was very opposed to the option as he believed it would cause his property and home to be flooded, increasing the chances of his stock drowning.
Surface water did flow over his property, then over two others and out on to Riccarton Rd, but he believed the proposed swale would cause a ponding effect on Riccarton Rd.
"The culvert will not take the flow capacity and will cause backflow."
The works, which he believed would be along his boundary, would devalue the properties involved and cause insurance companies to question insuring them. They would not, as was suggested, give the residents any more time to evacuate.
He suggested retaining the phone tree notification system the regional council had used to notify landowners in the area of flood risk since the 2006 floods.
However, in the long term, something would need to be done, he said. He thought a bund running parallel to the Silver Stream would be a more effective solution to the flooding problem in that area.
Hearing panel member council chairman Stephen Woodhead said the problem was flood protection works cost a lot of money, especially to protect a small number of people.
Mr Glass said given the amount of stormwater and concrete being generated by new subdivisions, Mosgiel and the surrounding area should also contribute to the cost.
If the proposal was approved in the plan, it would need to gain resource consent.
