$8m proposed for Wellington flood mitigation

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said if the proposal was finalised next month as expected, a total of $18 million will be available for spending over the next three years. Photo / iStock

Three severe rainstorms that hit the capital in the past month have prompted a proposal to bring forward $8 million in flood mitigation spending as part of Wellington City Council's 10-year Plan.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said if the proposal was finalised next month as expected, a total of $18 million will be available for spending over the next three years on up to five flooding "hot spots" around the city.

The areas - all of which suffered flooding in the past month - included the Kilbirnie Crescent area, the Basin Reserve area, the bottom of Aro Street, Lyall Bay Parade and parts of Tawa.

"The task now is to work with people in these areas on the solutions," Ms Wade-Brown said.

It was the council's responsibility to prevent flooding as much as practicable, she said.

"While the city has generally coped well with the last three storms, there is more work to do. We will be looking at both short-term 'quick fixes' and also longer-term responses that will take into account modelling on climate change and projected sea-level rises."

Council Environment Committee chairwoman Iona Pannett said she had been working with the council's infrastructure staff and management from Wellington Water on possible responses to the flooding events.

A combination of initiatives might be considered including expanded drainage mains and new pump stations, to the possibility that the council may pay for some houses in particularly low-lying areas to be raised on their foundations or for waterproof doors to be installed on some flood-prone commercial properties.

While many millions of dollars had been spent on flood mitigation work in parts of the CBD, Island Bay, Miramar and Tawa over the past two decades, "it is clear we have new challenges", Ms Pannett said.

Ms Wade-Brown said the flooding in the past month was a good opportunity to remind people that they should have emergency packs at home and at work, and they should have emergency plans.