The weather event that began with a rare MetService Red Rain Warning in early July caused widespread damage to Marlborough’s roading network.
From 6 to 8 July prolonged and intense rainfall fell across Marlborough, causing flooding, slips, road closures and considerable damage to roading infrastructure.
Today Council’s Infrastructure and Community Facilities committee received a report outlining the total costs of the response and recovery for the event, currently estimated at $8.069 million.
The committee also heard that Council has submitted an emergency works funding application for these costs to New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
Council’s Roading portfolio holder Councillor Scott Adams said it was the first time a MetService Red Rain Warning had been issued for southern Marlborough.
“This highlights the severity of the event. However, Marlborough Roads and its contractors were prepared and responded well across the district while the event unfolded. The whole of Marlborough was affected but the most severely impacted were areas south of the Wairau River,” Clr Adams said.
At the height of the storm, numerous roads were closed including sections of Awatere Valley Road, Medway Road, Tyntesfield Road, Ward Beach Road, and roads across the Wairau Plains with ford crossings such as Old Renwick Road and Jacksons Road. State Highway 1 south of the Marlborough boundary was also affected.
In the Marlborough Sounds, Queen Charlotte Drive and Kaiuma Bay Road were temporarily closed due to overslips and flooding.
“The most severe damage occurred on Tyntesfield Road where the bridge approach washed out and on Awatere Valley Road near Camden Station where major underslips and overslips occurred.
“Marlborough Roads is currently working through some ongoing challenges to overcome at Camden Corner where the land above the road is pretty unstable,” Clr Adams said.
The estimated costs are made up of $1.4M for the emergency response works including making roads safe and restoring access and $6.6M for recovery works to reinstate roads to their original condition.
“Council's contribution will depend on the Funding Assistance Rate (FAR) approved by NZTA following our application. We currently budget $980,000 annually for emergency roading works meaning a funding shortfall is expected regardless of the final funding outcome,” Clr Adams said.
Further funding options will be presented to Council once NZTA confirms the level of funding assistance available.
