Building in flood prone area comes at a cost
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
If you choose to build in a flood prone area you can expect to pay more, says a Waimakariri councillor.
Councillor Robbie Brine said new floor level guidelines will increase foundation costs for house builds in areas at risk of flooding, including beach communities.
However, he said it was a necessary move to reduce the risk.
The Waimakariri District Council approved a revised technical note on floor level guidelines at a council meeting on Tuesday.
The revised guideline means all houses built in a low flood risk area will need freeboard floor levels 500mm above the ground to be prepared for a one in 200-year flood.
Affected areas included beach communities, parts of Kaiapoi and other low lying areas.
Brine said when he built a house at Waikuku Beach he had to raise the floor level by an extra 150mm.
‘‘If you want to live at a beach there are risks involved and this extra cost is to mitigate those risks.’’
He said he supported the previous regulations, which led to his inflated foundation costs.
‘‘I am a climate change believer and I believe you have to plan for the future and manage that risk.
‘‘It has cost us, but if you don’t plan for the future you are a fool.
‘‘You look at councils in the North Island getting hammered for a lack of foresight. People are asking ‘why did you let us build here’."
The new guideline considers up to date flood hazard models, new government regulations and the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement.
The policy statement guides councils on the resource management issues in the Canterbury region.
Mayor Dan Gordon said the council had a responsibility to mitigate risk.
‘‘I have been aware of a number of people who have been through a build and have had to look seriously at the costs.
‘‘But if we don’t make sure these risks are managed, we will be in the gun.’’
But councillor Paul Williams said he was concerned the council was adding unnecessary costs on to builders and homeowners.
Councillor Philip Redmond said he also had reservations, but understood the reasons behind it.
‘‘It is not the total solution. While the floor levels help to protect your home from flooding, it doesn’t help with access in a flood, because you could become marooned.’’
Waimakariri District Council utilities and roading manager Gerard Cleary said rainfall data had changed little, but council staff now had more detailed modelling available, particularly for coastal flooding.
He said LIM reports will show the new mapping data in future.
The council approved its most recent practice note last year, but staff had found some inconsistencies which prompted the latest review.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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Proposed Canterbury landfill faces huge opposition
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 500 submissions have been received in response to a proposed managed fill landfill in North Canterbury.
Christchurch-based Protranz International Ltd has applied to Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council for resource consents to establish and operate a quarry and landfill operation at White Rock.
Waimakariri District Council planning manager Wendy Harris said the applicant was up against ‘‘probably the most organised local group I’ve ever seen’’.
‘‘They organised a protest march, they’ve got signs all around and they’ve got a website and a Facebook page.’’
She said the 548 submissions was more than the 421 submissions to the draft Waimakariri District Plan, which was notified in 2021.
A proposed housing development at Ohoka, near Rangiora, in 2022 received 630 submissions.
While the details of the submissions have yet to be released, it is understood the majority are opposed.
Harris said planners from the two councils will plan joint hearings early next year.
More than 100 people marched from Southbrook in Rangiora to the Waimakariri District Council lawn in High St in September to express their opposition.
Organiser Mike McCaleb said residents are concerned about the potential environmental damage to the Karetu River, which feeds into the Okuku River, and then the Ashley/Rakahuri River.
He said he was surprised there were not more submissions but said he was aware of several people who had issues with Environment Canterbury’s website timing out.
‘‘It will be interesting to see the details of the submissions.’’
Protranz is seeking to restore the Whiterock Quarry, at 150 and 174 Quarry Rd, North Loburn, to near its previous landform, by filling it with managed fill, building and demolition waste and contaminated soil material, including asbestos.
The company bought Whiterock Quarry in 2022 with plans to fill it with soils and inert construction rubble removed from building and land development sites in Christchurch and North Canterbury, which are sent to Kate Valley Landfill.
‘‘Sending this stuff to Kate Valley adds a massive cost to developers, homeowners and community organisations who have dirt to move, and fills Kate Valley with material that can be better managed somewhere else,’’ Protranz founder Gerard Daldry said.
He said Protranz commissioned a wide range of testing including site investigations, technical assessments and design of the managed fill to support the resource consent applications.
The reports found environmental risks were ‘‘extremely low and able to be mitigated’’, Daldry said.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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