A multi-million dollar project to resolve ongoing drainage issues on Tahi and Ostend Roads on Waiheke Island is planned to start in the next few months.
The Tahi business area has historically been victim to severe flooding damage from heavy rain events and the problem is expected to worsen with climate change and sea level rises.
Waiheke Local Board is determined to help reduce the flooding there and at adjacent properties and ease the worries of the residents and businesses.
Board chair Cath Handley said the start of these works was a great relief.
"The design and consenting works follow months of collaboration by the board with local business representatives and Council’s CEO office as well as Auckland Council's Healthy Waters Department.”
It is proposed to construct a stormwater channel and storage capacity along the eastern boundary of Tawaipareira Reserve which includes a deep fenced channel inside the eastern end of the transfer station.
After Auckland Council consulted with Ngati Paoa, the board then gave landowner approval to the project which will see some clearance of mangroves but a return to inter-tidal flows between the sea and the wetlands.
The budget for the physical works is close to $5.5m and is agreed within Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters Capital Works Budget for 2018/19 and 2019/2020.
