Standing Up for Flood Resilience
Last month, Destination KRL made both a written and an oral submission to Wellington City Council on the Tātou ki Uta – Draft Coastal Reserves Management Plan.
Our focus was clear: the urgent need to improve stormwater management along the southern coastline to reduce the growing flood risk in Kilbirnie, Rongotai, and Lyall Bay.
At the oral hearing, General Manager Steve Walters stressed that the extent of flooding in KRL has been underestimated. In many locations, the road sits higher than nearby businesses, so when stormwater outlets are blocked by sand, debris, or high tides, water pools and floods directly into shops and premises. This has caused serious damage in recent years, with some businesses facing losses of tens of thousands of dollars.
Despite this, the draft plan categorised stormwater improvements as a low priority, with no funding allocated and an eight-year timeline before action. Destination KRL raised strong concerns that such delays leave our business community exposed — with risks ranging from repeated flooding and property damage, to higher insurance costs and, in some cases, business closures.
- Our submissions called on Council to bring action forward:
- Proactive maintenance of stormwater outlets
- Short-term investment in upgrades
Better integration of stormwater planning into Wellington’s climate resilience strategy
We will continue to follow this process closely and keep engaging with Council to ensure the needs of the KRL business community are properly addressed.
