The ability to reopen roads quickly after flooding was discussed at a meeting between the Waitaki District Council and Otago Regional Council on Wednesday afternoon.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said yesterday various issues were on the agenda, including roading, earthquake-prone buildings legislation, progress being made with updating district waste water treatment plants, the state of the regional policy and flooding, including after recent heavy rain when district roads and State Highway 1 north and south of Oamaru were cut.
The frequent closure of SH1 during flooding in recent years has become a contentious issue, despite efforts to improve the situation.
Mr Kircher said that, while the regional council agreed something needed to be done, the issue was one the district council should pursue with the New Zealand Transport Agency.
The regional council would support that approach.
In terms of district roads managed by the council, the issue was being able to carry out some work quickly to reopen as soon as possible after flooding without the need to obtain resource consents when working in rivers and streams.
Mr Kircher said while major work would need a consent, the district council was asking the regional council if there was a way remedial work could be done without one.
