Fencing will be installed at the rainwater catchment basins in the Elizabeth St and Matai Ridge subdivision.
The fences will be DuraPanel Polo.
A report on the fencing options and risk assessment of the two sites was presented at a council meeting last week by Three Waters project engineer Terry Trotter.
Mr Trotter said the risk assessment was carried out after residents complained that fences had not been installed before the September flood.
Cr Stewart MacDonell supported the fencing but questioned the resilience of DuraPanel.
“It's aluminum and I've seen that stuff installed. It's very thin,” he said.
Mr Trotter agrees that there is a perception that the aluminum panels may not be as durable as other options.
“[It] is not as durable as steel because the powder coating tends to chip.”
However, that collapse would take about 10 to 12 years to occur.
He believed that Kinks Panel fencing would be more susceptible to vandalism due to its lightweight structure.
“There are a lot of things to take into account. It's not so much about the cost, but I think about the durability and the aesthetics.”
Deputy Mayor Keith Hovell questioned why diamond-shaped fencing could not be used.
Mr Trotter replied.
“Although there is no legal obligation to shield the pools, we try to match what we do for swimming pools in terms of climbability.
“It is noted that any type of mesh fence can be climbed by babies.
“So that's why we chose the vertical option.
“It meets the requirements.”
Cr. Bronwyn Reid said the report made it clear that the council had to cordon off the area.
The motion passed to install the DuraPanel fencing system at both basins at a total cost of $68,600.
Mayor Ben Bell said these seemed very high prices for fencing.
'The costs are difficult to bear, but ultimately it is about the safety of human lives.
“That is much more important than the costs we face today.”