A year ago this morning, Dunedin and parts of coastal Otago were starting to tot up the cost of two days of heavy rain which sparked the first red-level severe weather warning issued for the region.
That 24-hour period to 9am on Friday October 4 last year marked Dunedin’s second-wettest day on record, with about 130mm of rain recorded. Across two days, about 180mm fell around the city, flooding homes and forcing evacuations, sparking slips, closing roads and leading to declarations of states of emergency in Dunedin and the Clutha District.
Steady rain is expected across the region again this weekend, a reminder of the chaos of 12 months ago - as if those affected, especially residents of parts of South Dunedin and of Caversham’s Surrey St, could ever have forgotten.
In spite of this ongoing vulnerability to excess water for many thousands of Dunedin residents - whether it be climate-change induced in the case of rising sea-levels or more severe rainstorms, or due to inadequate human technology or infrastructure - concerns about the environment appear not to be uppermost in the city’s mind.
That’s according to the latest Dunedin City Council residents’ opinion survey, for the period from July 1 last year until June 30, which shows the level of rates and council debt is of more concern than looking after the environment and improving drainage to better manage stormwater and flooding.
Given the exposure of many in the city to natural hazards, that figure, based on the views of 1349 people, reveals sharply how worried people are about money in these tough economic times.
When it came to the performance of Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich and the councillors themselves, recipients gave them a 30% satisfaction rating, compared with 29% last year and 34% in 2023. At the time of the last local body election, former mayor Aaron Hawkins and elected representatives received a 26% rating.
Satisfaction with the council as a whole dropped to 48%, two percentage points lower than last year, but residents who took part say they are more satisfied with transport, urban design and waste management work, despite a dip in satisfaction over value for money from services.
When those who participated were asked to list their top two council priorities, road maintenance came out on top for the second consecutive year, with 22% support. Reducing rates or holding rates rises back as much as possible was on 13%, with debt reduction and being financially stable a point lower.
Interestingly, managing flooding, drainage and stormwater was also on 12%, but support for a category on the council being more environmentally friendly and dealing with climate change dropped alarmingly during the past year, from being second in 2024 on 17% down to 9% now.
It’s possible that, had the floods of a year ago occurred in the past month or so, this fall may not have been as precipitous. However, when the chips are down for folk, it shows that money is their biggest worry.
But, of course, those environmental concerns haven’t magically disappeared. The cost of last October’s flooding has risen to almost $40 million and there are nearly 40 properties which remain damaged.
On the first anniversary of last year’s floods, Mr Radich says he is hopeful that impending work will help the city cope better with the effects of future storm systems. However, he also warns that, in his view, were the same synoptic situation to occur this week or next, Dunedin would be no better off in terms of staving off floodwaters.
Some improvements for South Dunedin residents are about three years away, the mayor estimates, as part of a $29.2m package of short-term flood alleviation work. But for people in Surrey St, who have to deal with revolting overflowing sewage every time it rains heavily, a decent solution could still be nine years’ off.
It’s an age-old battle for importance between the economy and the environment. On the flat of Dunedin, in fact anywhere where climate change is already having an impact, the two really come face-to-face.
