Since then, the club's grounds have been impacted by every high tide. The issue came to a head this week when another king tide put the club's paddocks up to chest-deep in water and inundated thousands of newly grafted roses at nearby Glenavon.
''I am sure the buds won't survive,'' Somerfield said yesterday.
His attempts to get the Western Bay District Council to take quick action to protect up to 20 per cent of his growing area from being hit by big tides had ''come up against a brick wall''.
''All this buggering around is ruining me... we need this fixed,'' he told Bay of Plenty Times Weekend.
A few minutes later, consultant Brian Norton showed up at the pony club's flooded paddocks to put the council's position.
He said replacing the culvert and stop-gate required consent from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, but nothing could be done without first getting permission from the owner of the land, KiwiRail.
Norton explained how the council was negotiating with KiwiRail to build two cycleway bridges across drains on either side of the railway line as part of the construction of the cycleway from Omokoroa to the river.
He said a decision had been made not to jeopardise the advanced consultation with KiwiRail to build the bridges- one of which crossed the drain without the stop-gate.
Bridges were the preferred solution because they did not need a consent from the regional council. Going down the consent path would take three months at the very least, and normally took six months or more, Norton said.
If the council had just stepped in and began fixing the drain, the regional council could have slapped it with an abatement notice. ''We just can't go there.''
Western Bay councillor Margaret Murray-Benge has asked staff to deal with the matter under urgency. ''It is a bureaucratic nightmare, it's just tragic. We have had plenty time to sort this out.''
The pony club argued that the rebuilt culvert and stop-gate could have become one of the bridges - even if needed a regional council consent.
Club groundsman John Carmichael said the club was unable to plan anything of significance and should not have to work between the tides.
Club spokesman Adrian Triggs said the incoming water was having a devastating impact on the club. The drain filled and overflowed with normal high tides.
He said a valuable source of income had been lost because people were no longer prepared to pay for grazing on the club's property because of the risk to horses.
''We have had to shut the gates.''
Triggs said the club's season had ended four months earlier than normal and the children had nowhere to ride their ponies.
A meeting he planned to attend with the council and KiwiRail was postponed because a site access permit had not been issued. ''That sums up what we are dealing with.''
Western Bay Mayor Garry Webber said that trying to deal with climate change created complex issues.
''We have to make sure who has the liability and responsibility.''
He said the drain involved complex issues. ''That is why we have to get it right and follow due process... that is why we are seeking advice.''
Otumoetai-Te Puna Pony Club
- Formed 25 years ago
- Owns a 4ha property on Teihana Rd
- Pony riding for up to 46 children
Source: Adrian Triggs