Clutha district roads could cost $1 million to fix

Flooding in Milton forced some families to evacuate their homes. Photo / Supplied

In the clean-up after the floods in the Clutha district, one item could cost almost $25,000 alone.

Clutha District Council service delivery operations manager Paul Jamison identified at a standing committee meeting last week that the cost of the clean-up to roads following the floods could amount to $1million. In a written statement, Mr Jamison said there were numerous washouts, culvert repairs and slips to remove in the district.

While there were not "too many big-ticket items identified", Mr Jamison said a retaining wall and its associated guardrail had been damaged in Findlaysons Rd which had a ballpark repair figure of about $25,000.

However, it was difficult to put a definite cost on it without a confirmed design.

The worst affected areas on the roading network in the Clutha District were at Lawrence, Beaumont and West Otago.Cross Rd was one road identified.

Some roads remained closed in the district.

Titri Rd, near Waihola, had 11 slips over a 2km section and both Lake Rd and Young Rd were still under water when they were last inspected.

Council service delivery group manager Jules Witt said the million-dollar estimate was in the upper limit of what the council expected based on information received so far.

Further details were expected later in the week.

As well as damage to the roading network, Mr Witt said the council had sustained some damage to its water structures. All of its above ground water assets were insured, so the council was looking at what damage was done and what the repairs would entail.

Council service delivery group manager Jules Witt. Photo / Supplied

Some of the bigger costs to the council will be to repair culverts.

Mr Witt said one culvert damaged a few years ago cost about $160,000 to repair.

"That was a pretty major one. I haven't heard that there's any in that sort of scale this time around."

Culverts usually cost between $15,000 to $20,000 to repair. However, that cost could be less depending on the size, Mr Witt said.

Craig Wyber, the father of a family which was forced to evacuate their house in Milton at 3am on the night of the flooding, said his daughter and partner had managed to find a new place to live as their rental property in Ajax St at Milton was no longer fit to live in.

- Otago Daily Times