There was water up to thigh level in Sharron Taylor's Anzac Parade house in the 1990 flood, and she was evacuated at 9pm in her pyjamas.
Twenty-three years later, she is still living in the house. She is glad Horizons Regional Council will repair the stopbanks next summer, though it will cost her household a one-off $84 on top of their Horizons rates bill.
"In our situation, I don't mind. It's a very good idea," she said.
Last week the council voted to bring the stopbanks back up to a standard that will protect 57 at-risk Anzac Parade houses in a 50-year flood. The $1.02 million repair job will be paid for in the following year, with the rest of the Horizons region contributing over $300,000, those in the flood zone paying about $84 each, those in urban Wanganui paying $48, and those in rural Wanganui paying $33.
The Chronicle knocked on some doors in the heart of the flood zone and found most residents approved.