Claims it is responsible for any flooding in South Dunedin are wrong, the Dunedin City Council says.
‘‘There are extensive natural hazard risks in South Dunedin, including (but not limited to) rainfall flooding, groundwater, tsunamis, earthquakes, liquefaction, coastal erosion and inundation and landslides,’’ a spokesman said in a statement.
The council took issue with comments by Surrey St Flood Action Group convener Lynne Newell pointing the finger its way for inadequate infrastructure.
Mrs Newell was commenting on AA Insurance’s decision to decline new policies as it looked to manage its risk exposure in areas prone to flooding.
She said South Dunedin did not ‘‘have any rivers, we don’t have any streams, we don’t have anywhere that can cause a flood’’.
‘‘We have pipes that don’t work and pumping stations that don’t work.
‘‘That’s the story.’’
The council spokesman said there were plenty of waterways in South Dunedin.
‘‘These are now piped and covered up, but overland flow paths remain. Water follows the path of least resistance, typically downhill and South Dunedin lies at the bottom of the catchment.
‘‘Our pipes and pumps work — the issue is the capacity of the network during periods of heavy rainfall, exacerbated by high groundwater levels which leave nowhere else for rainwater to go.’’
The council said its position about natural hazards was backed up by extensive research carried out by the Otago Regional Council, the University of Otago, and GNS and Earth Sciences New Zealand.
Mrs Newell suggested people affected by flooding should approach the council to pay for any repairs or property damage, but the council said it was ‘‘not responsible ... for insurance payments’’. — Allied Media
