Moves to protect Milton from another serious flood have begun with a consent application lodged to build a new floodbank at the southern end of town.
Clutha District Council planning and environment manager Murray Brass yesterday said it was still talking with the Otago Regional Council about discharge issues and other ‘‘areas of mutual interest'' but lodging the consent was a sign the project would be happening.
The town was hit by two major floods within 15 months and a floodbank is what the council believes to be the best way to prevent further floods.
Mr Brass said the new floodbank was not about keeping the Tokomairiro River at bay during high river levels but allowing a planned new pumping station to effectively handle large volumes of stormwater during floods.
The pumping station would allow stormwater to be drained more quickly and effectively. The large volume of stormwater lying in the town was the main problem behind last July's floods, he said.
‘‘The main issue then was the stormwater was not getting away. These new plans will help rectify that.''
It is likely the consent process will become a public one, simply because of the strong public interest in the development.
The full cost of the floodbank and pumping station have yet to be confirmed but it is understood council staff are preparing draft budgets and estimates to set money aside in this year's annual plan.
At a public meeting in Milton last August, the council said the estimated $1.5 million cost would add another $185 to the stormwater rate of every Milton ratepayer for the next 25 years.
The exact impact on rates would become clearer during the annual plan process.
