Peter Meecham / Stuff
The Snodgrass area in Westport will be surrounded by flooding in July 2021.
A resident of a West coast community hit hard by repeated flooding says they are being treated as “forerunners — in a rotten way” for how flood-prone areas will be handled.
In June, residents of the flooded Snodgrass Rd neighborhood on the northern edge of Westportlearned that floodwalls for the 34 homes were excluded from the $26 million scheme proposed by the West Coast Regional Council, as part of a broader $45 million business case.
The government is considering the business case after inviting the Buller District Council and the West Coast Regional Council to put together a co-investment case.
The government said the plan should include future climate change-driven withdrawal and adaptation options.
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Several residents of Snodgrass Rd are still living a makeshift existence after the big event in July 2021.
A Buller District Council-led meeting in June failed to provide any clarity to them after news emerged that Snodgrass would not have a flood wall.
Residents have now been invited by the West Coast Regional Council to a closed-door meeting on Wednesday to hear expert advice.
Resident Sarah Lee Smith said it was extraordinary that the regional council had convened a one-hour meeting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
Most residents would have to take time off from work to attend. It looked like the council was now acting because of “a bit of backlash,” she said.
Brendon McMahon/LDR
Sarah-Lee Smith ponders the future of her property in Westport, a year after the July 2021 flood that sent more than 6 feet of water through her home.
She wanted to hear how the district and regional councils justified a protection levee for all of Westport while barring 34 Snodgrass homes.
“I believe they have not once spoken to Snodgrass as a community or given us their reasoning for not providing [protection]’ said Smith.
“Better late than never [but] by saying they wanted us to send any questions we have ahead of time which is interesting. I don’t need to see a pre-planned response. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Snodgrass resident Ruth Vaega said the timing of the regional council was remarkable.
“It’s the first time they’ve ever acknowledged that we exist,” she said.
Brendon McMahon/LDR
Ruth Vaega in front of her home of over 20 years, opposite Orowaiti Estuary. After Cyclone Fehi in 2018, the house was lifted and placed on a higher foundation.
The meeting would allow residents to represent the technical experts used to advise on their area, despite having to submit written questions first.
“We’re going to get some answers this time, I guess… I don’t think we’re going down quietly,” Vaega said.
There was more certainty now that the entire Westport area was considered “a test case” by the government.
“We’re pioneers — in a rotten way.”
Fellow Snodgrass resident Paul Reynolds was not optimistic about the meeting: “It’s just a farce of a consultation meeting. They have made their decision.
JOANNE CARROLL/STYFF
The Snodgrass residential block in Westport, Noel Burr, was inundated with saltwater during the February 1 storm, killing all of its vegetation, including an orchard. (First published in February 2018)
“We have a consultation with us, then we can have 10 minutes” [one on one] session with one of the experts. The consultation will be that they teach us what we are going to get. ”
Residents should have been involved much earlier, Reynolds said.
Joanne Dickson, a member of a new Snodgrass Road Committee, said they could formalize it once the Aug. 10 meeting is held.
However, the new group had collectively submitted about 40 questions.
“It will be good to finally get some good answers from the experts…hopefully they have some answers.”
JOHN KIRK ANDERSON/Stuff
Marcus Shenker spends his birthday waiting for the water to flood his house on Snodgrass Road.
About half of the 34 homes on Snodgrass Rd were severely affected by the more recent flooding, but in the past three decades “we haven’t had a flood,” said Dickson, a 34-year-old resident.
“But in all these years we have asked for a dike to be built around the river.
“Now both [councils] have come back and said neither of them own it, which is a bit of a joke,” she said.
Allan Birchfield, regional council president, said he was not aware of the meeting but believed it could be premature as the outcome of the business case was not yet known.
“My view is that nothing will happen until we get the promise of the money from the government.
“I would hold back. There may not be much for everyone.”