Council engineering manager Brett Paterson’s report to councillors said damage from floods in 2022, 2023 and 2024 had been repaired at 109 sites across the region. Repairs remained outstanding at 15 sites.
"The flood protection schemes, and river channels damaged by weather outlined in this paper, are not insured by the ORC," Mr Paterson said.
"The flood protection and river management schemes are structured as self-insured funding models.
"The flood repair costs ... are unbudgeted and will be incurred as deficit to the schemes and, or, rivers’ management reserves."
Repairs were still required at two sites after 71 sites were identified as damaged after 2022 flooding, Mr Paterson said.
The Kaitangata floodbank and earthwork on the Waipori still required work, he said.
After 13 sites were identified as in need of repair as a result of 2023 flooding, repairs were still needed at two sites in the Wanaka area.
Of the 25 identified flood-damaged sites from 2024, repairs had been completed at 14 sites, work was under way at three sites and was being investigated at seven sites. One site was being monitored and repairs might not be required, Mr Paterson said.
"The overall cost for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 flood damage is expected to be $3.95m.
"Costs incurred to date [to May 31] are $1.51m, with $2.44m remaining to be spent."
Contact Energy had contributed about $300,000 to flood repairs from the 2022 flood, he said.
But it was unlikely the council would be in a position to claim funding assistance from the National Emergency Management Agency, he said.
The council had applied for some relief through the Regional Infrastructure Fund "tranche two" funding, he said.
"A decision from central government on projects included in tranche two is expected within the coming weeks."
Otherwise, the flood repair costs were unbudgeted, and funding would come from schemes’ or rivers’ management reserves.
Flood damage from 2022 and 2023 was expected to be fully repaired by the end of this year. Repairs from the 2024 flood were expected to be complete by the end of the 2025-26 financial year, he said.
— APL
