Let’s first take a step back.
This is a consultation document, nothing is decided. It will be up to the Dunedin City Council (DCC) and the Otago Regional Council (ORC) how to proceed. This must only be with the agreement of a critical mass of the people of South Dunedin.
Primarily, SDF is a climate change modelling exercise on the impact of estimated sea level rise over the course of this century. The danger is that this is being conflated into the immediate issue of fixing the South Dunedin storm water system.
The urgent priority for the DCC must be upgrading the pipes and pumps. Money is being allocated but to date, minimal engineering has occurred — extraordinary, given the major flooding event of 2015 was over a decade ago.
I’ve been assured by the DCC that works will now be scaling up significantly. I will be keeping close tabs on this.
Publicly releasing a consultation document impacting the future existence of hundreds of homes, businesses and schools is a big deal.
I was concerned to learn that this latest version of the SDF was not formally signed off by the elected councillors before public release.
Reports with such far reaching consequences as SDF must be under the control and authority of the elected members.
The government will be releasing its own version of a national flood risk map later this year. It is unthinkable that this would be released without cabinet sign off. The same must apply for the DCC.
I am aware that officials from Kānoa — Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit are working proactively with the DCC and ORC to assess options for creating storm water overflow capacity using the green spaces at Forbury and Tonga Parks.
If that option makes hydrological sense, it could be eligible for co-funding through the Regional Infrastructure Fund.
New Zealand First will always back practical solutions over climate alarmism.
