$6m project to ease flooding woes

RAIN RUSH: Even small rain events coming from the catchment beyond the Westbourne industrial estate in Castlecliff have been creating significant ponding or flooding issues in commercial and residential areas.

The ball is rolling in a major stormwater project in Whanganui aimed at overcoming persistent flooding through residential and commercial properties in Castlecliff.

The district council is calling for expressions of interest for the contract to extend the city's stormwater system by about 250 metres between Gilberd St and Raupo St in Castlecliff.

It's a project estimated to cost $6 million spread across two years and has meant council has had to make changes to its 2016-17 Annual Plan as well as its 2015-25 long-term plan.

The work is aimed at improving stormwater drainage in an area from the Westbourne industrial estate, on through the Titoki wetlands and into Gilberd St next to the Whanganui River.

It's an area prone to ponding or flooding in even small or medium rain events.

The work has been fast-tracked in the wake of the June weather event last year and it will increase the council's overall rates bill by 0.3 per cent in the 2016-17 year, which will cover interest and loan repayments for the work.

Council engineers said during "unusually large" rain storms water will still follow overland "flow paths", which are the predictable paths excess water takes towards the river.

But council says the work will ultimately enhance economic growth in Whanganui because it will provide improved infrastructure for commercial properties in the Mill Rd area and residential properties in Titoki St and Rogers St.

Once the new stormwater pipes are in place, other properties in the area will be able to connect to them. But engineers warn that most of the improvement in stormwater drainage won't be apparent until the project is completed.