Patience running out

It has been two weeks since the record rain that caused flooding and landslips throughout Otago, triggering states of emergency and the reopening of Dunedin's Mayoral Relief Fund.

In the immediate aftermath, local authorities were praised for their response, and there was a sense of relief in particular that South Dunedin had escaped a repeat of the floods of 2015 (largely because of a less intense rainfall), and the Taieri Plain spared the extreme damage of the devastating 1980 flood (largely because of infrastructure development).

However, the picture has changed day by day as more damage is revealed and patience starts to run out.

More water actually came down the Taieri River than in the 1980 deluge. The Lower Taieri Flood Protection Scheme - constructed in the wake of the 1980 deluge - has been credited with serving its purpose.

Its flood banks, spillways and ponding areas are designed to direct floodwater past townships, across the Taieri Plain to the Lower Taieri Gorge.

But water has not drained quickly because the ground was already sodden from previous rainfalls. Henley residents have been the worst affected.

Two weeks after the initial rain, water is still a metre deep on some farms. Valuable feed has been swept away or damaged and calving is starting. Even when the water clears, pasture will be reduced to mud and silt.

Recognising the extent of the problem, the Government on Wednesday declared the flooding a medium-scale adverse event - covering Dunedin, and the Clutha, Waitaki and Central Otago districts. The designation is welcome, as it means financial assistance and practical support is available for affected farmers.

While the flooding is not as widespread as in 1980 - when Dunedin Airport was closed for 52 days - many people are still affected.

There is anger that, despite the flood protection scheme, more has not been done in the way of infrastructure and maintenance.

The Dunedin City and Otago Regional councils are to some extent on a hiding to nothing.

How much could and should be poured into more infrastructure on a known flood plain? Who pays? All ratepayers or only those affected? Should new subdivisions have been approved? What is the future for development on the plain?

Elsewhere there are growing issues, too.

Dunedin Railways is worried about how long it will take - and how much it will cost - to get its trains back on the Taieri Gorge Railway. It says damage to the tracks is worse than in 1980, because of slips and scouring of the land under the tracks.

The Otago Peninsula has been badly affected by slips, which have closed roads, and damaged property. The area had already been affected by previous slips.

The road to Taiaroa Head is down to one lane, because of a slip. Thankfully, it has at least reopened.

The blow to wildlife tourism from having access to the albatross and blue penguin colonies affected long-term would be significant.

In Middlemarch, there remains anger and uncertainty about the fate of the historic Sutton bridge, which was demolished by the floods. It had been undergoing strengthening work. An engineering report about its collapse will be eagerly anticipated by residents.

There is still much to be done to return people to their homes, get farms back to business, and lives back to normal. And the financial cost is mounting.

The authorities' response to the immediate aftermath was worthy of congratulation. But the time for basking in glory is over.

There are important short and long-term issues to consider, including land use, development, infrastructure and climate change. It seems likely we are going to be tested more often and more intensely in the future.

Planning needs to be urgent and ongoing.

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