During Saturday night's downpour, District Rd residents said a "river" of water that was "frightening to see" ran down off the hill above and through their properties, prompting memories of landslips in the area in the late 1970s and 1980.
Those slips resulted in the demolition of at least four homes in the area. Residents inundated with water during the weekend were worried it would happen again if the water flow continued.
They were convinced the problem was a direct result of the clear-felling last year of pine trees planted on the hill in 1982 as part of slip stabilisation measures.
Dunedin City Council civil defence manager Neil Brown said it was his team's job to monitor geological hazards within council boundaries and the area was tested every two years for movement.
Over the years, the slip had been tested on occasion after heavy rainfall, but no serious issues were identified, he said.
Geotechnical engineers from council contractor MWH were asked to inspect the slip area yesterday and assess the situation, he said.
He expected their report within two days.
If there was any evidence of problems, the parties who needed to be aware would be brought together to discuss whose responsibility it was to address them.
If, for example, MWH felt there was an issue with drainage, the first action would be to determine who was responsible - whether it was the council, the landowner or the regional council; and get them to check it out.
If engineers felt there were any safety risks, those potentially affected would be made aware of them.
