Jules Radich is hopeful an upcoming programme of work will set the city up to better cope with future weather events.
In the 48 hours to October 4 last year, Emergency Management Otago estimated 160mm of rain fell in Dunedin city, about 180mm fell in the suburban hills and nearly 90mm of rain fell in Clutha.
The rain caused slips and widespread flooding and states of emergency were declared in Dunedin and Clutha district.
Infrastructure was overwhelmed, the ground saturated and about 100 Dunedin residents were told to evacuate their homes in the middle of the night.
Mr Radich said he recalled people were very distressed and, considering the effect of the 2015 floods, "peeved off that it was happening again".
Asked how Dunedin would fare if another storm of last October’s magnitude arrived, Mr Radich said: "at this point in time, not much better, in my view."
A $29.2m package of short-term flood alleviation projects, included in the Dunedin City Council’s nine-year plan, would change this, he said.
These included installing new pipes to divert stormwater to the Portobello Rd pumping station (estimated cost $1.9m) and Orari St stormwater outfall (estimated $15.2m) and upgrading the size of the Forbury Rd stormwater pipe (estimated $12m).
Mr Radich said he hoped the projects, in their early designs stages, would make a huge difference to South Dunedin.
"In three years’ time, the situation will be different."
He said a permanent solution to wastewater and sewage overflows in Surrey St during heavy rain may still be nine years away, as it was tied to the upgrade of the Green Island wastewater treatment plant, but interim solutions were in the works.
"I feel pretty confident that we’ll have some Band-Aids solutions that will make a difference," Mr Radich said, although he declined to give further details.
"It’s not resolved, but it’s promising. I’m happy to say that it’s promising."
Council climate and city growth general manager Scott MacLean said, overall, the city and its infrastructure coped well with the "exceptional" weather event, helped by council staff, contractors and community volunteers.
"They helped make sure people were safe and supported when the need arose, and they have been working hard in the year since to help our city recover from the damage caused by the heavy rain, flooding and slips," Mr MacLean said.
As at August 31, costs totalled $6.106m, offset by $2.836m in NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi subsides and welfare costs reimbursements.
Five damaged properties were still red-stickered and their occupants accommodated elsewhere, he said.
"In addition to insurance payments, financial assistance was offered primarily by Work and Income and their Civil Defence payments, which help with food, bedding, clothing, accommodation, and, in some instances, loss of income."
A further 34 properties were yellow-stickered.
Data from Insurance Council of New Zealand showed 1920 private insurance claims across Otago were lodged in relation to October’s floods, totalling an estimated $33.8m.
Mr MacLean said since last October the council had completed a "significant amount of work", repairing damaged parts of the roading and Three Waters networks while work to repair slip damage and boost water supply resilience around Otago Harbour continued.
"We will encounter more extreme weather events like October 2024 in the future, but our staff and contractors will be ready to respond with the same level of commitment and resolve... to minimise the impact on our community and keep our residents safe."
