Editorial: Flooding not over for many

THE festive season is a trying time for many in our community but this year it will also be for those affected by the devastating floods and rain event back in June.

That damage is going to take years to repair across our rural heartland but the most obvious signs for those living in the city are the still empty homes along Anzac Pde.

A report from Matthew Smith, Whanganui District Council emergency manager, this week said there were still - as at the end of November - 20 properties in Wanganui East red-stickered, making them uninhabitable.

Mr Smith said while repair work was being carried on, damage to farms would take more time to recover. Many industries such as beekeeping and tourism have experienced considerable financial loss.

In his words, there are individuals and families who continue to experience very difficult circumstances as a result of the June event.

Whanganui has been subjected to some significant flooding in the past decade - floods of 2004, 2006 and 2013 remain fresh in the memories of many. In fact, our district has had twice as many declared states of emergency as any other local authority in New Zealand since 1989 and the June weather bomb was the largest "emergency" event recorded in the district since 1857.

Mr Smith said a Horizons report concluded climate change would have a significant influence on future floods and that "within the next 40 years we can expect a flood of this size ... to occur twice as frequently".

These are sobering figures and that's why the review of the June floods holds special relevance. It will not only analyse what happened but look for solutions to mitigate against such damage recurring. Because it's clear we will experience similar events in future.