Figures show weather hit Dunedin hard

Wild weather in the South last year resulted in dozens of claims flooding in to the Earthquake Commission (EQC).

Dunedin dominated the 129 EQC claims in Otago and Southland recorded in 2018, according to figures released by the commission.

Ninety-one claims for landslip, storm or flood damage were lodged last year in Otago and Southland, most of which (77) were from Dunedin.

Commission marketing and communications manager Don Martin said it received 18 claims for the wild weather of November 20. Torrential rain turned front gardens in Dunedin into waterfalls, and large tracts of farmland were turned brown after extensive surface flooding left water lingering on Taieri Plain paddocks.

Of those claims, 17 were from Dunedin city, while the remaining claim was in the Clutha District. Eight of these claims have been closed, Mr Martin said.

Cyclone Fehi in February generated 12 claims: 10 in Dunedin and one each for Queenstown Lakes and Southland, all of which had been closed.

While the majority (91) of the claims were for landslips, storms or floods, the EQC received 38 earthquake claims in Otago and Southland last year.

Fifteen were lodged from the Queenstown-Lakes District, nine were made in the Southland District and six each in Central Otago and Dunedin, with one each in Gore and Invercargill.

Of the 129 claims received last year, 101 have been settled or closed.

Mr Martin said it took a median of 28 days to settle earthquake claims, compared to 46 days for landslip, storm or flood claims.

george.block@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement