Christchurch City Council is to ask the community about flood protection options, following the failure of drainage systems damaged by the earthquakes.
Cars struggle through floods on Matlock Street in Woolston. Photo: RNZ
Two options were presented to the council on Wednesday morning: an area-wide improvement to drainage systems and installing a pump station.
Drainage networks were damaged so severely by the earthquakes that parts of the city, especially the Flockton basin in the north-east, have been extensively flooded at least three times.
Land and Drainage manager Mike Giloolley said the first option - to increase the capacity of waterways in the flood-prone Flockton Basin area - will affect private land.
But, he said, at a cost of $50 million, about 550 houses will be better protected.
The second option, to install a pump system, will cost $53 million, and will better protect 490 houses.
Mr Giloolley said consents for the work can be sped up through the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act.
Christchurch city councillor Yani Johanson believes residents would prefer area-wide flood protection work, rather than dealing with the EQC on an individual basis.
He said that since the Government indicated last week it wanted EQC payments to go to the council for area-wide work, rather than to individual homeowners, residents across the city have told him they see benefit in the area-wide repair approach.
The council voted unanimously to begin public consultation.
