Stormwater has been brought to the forefront as Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board responds to the area’s recent floods.
The board has been working with local group Thrive in Māngere, a group advocating for improved infrastructure in the belief flooding is a chance to deliver a liveable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly community.
“We support allocating the pending storm response rates rise to our projects to support storm recovery, flood mitigation and climate change environmental initiatives,” board chair Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich says.
“Work has started to generate a new flooding model and investigate solutions, though it has an indicative timeframe of three to five years.
“The goal is simple, ensure Māngere’s infrastructure is upgraded to be fit for purpose.”
He says Thrive is not alone in believing Māngere can’t afford to wait until another severe weather event hits because flooding issues could drop off the radar, only to restart in another deluge.
Local resident and Thrive member Jin Guo calls it the ‘Wet and Forget’ phase.
The group wants Te Ararata stream re-engineered sustainably and with mana whenua engagement, the area’s stormwater management plan upgraded, and a practically designed emergency plan for neighbourhoods that includes evacuation points.
“Streams and drains in our catchment area need to be prioritised, our management programme needs to be visible and there should be regular stakeholder updates,” he/she says.
Thrive has provided records to assist with flood modelling, written to ministers, councillors, iwi and council organisations.
Bakulich says it’s clear Thrive and residents’ concerns match those of the board, and it will continue to push for a speedy recovery and long-term improvements.
Photo courtesy of Thrive in Māngere from the May 2023 floods
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