About 44 homes in Porirua have been identified as eligible for the draft flood retreat policy, but homeowners have yet to be officially told. Photo: Supplied / Porirua City Council
Porirua City Council is moving forward with its flood retreat policy, but how it will be financed is still uncertain.
A draft paper was on the table this morning for councillors to agree, in principle, on a flood retreat policy which will allow vulnerable homes to be either raised, relocated or bought-out.
But the big question to grapple with is how a bill as high $22 million could be paid.
Areas of the city have been devastated by floods in recent years, notably in November 2020 when about 70 homes were damaged.
After approving $17.9 million in flood prevention measures last year, the council committed to exploring retreat options.
Preliminary data showed 44 dwellings across Porirua were most at risk of serious and regular flood damage and could be eligible for retreat options under this policy.
Cannons Creek has a quarter of the most vulnerable homes, followed by Honoeka/Plimmerton.
There are a further 46 dwellings which are still at some risk, but do not meet the criteria for interventions.
Flooding at Mana Esplanade on State Highway 59, Porirua, on 22 June, 2022. Photo: Supplied
Residents do not officially know if their home is on those lists.
Council policy planning and regulatory services general manager Nicola Etheridge said there was good reason for that.
"We've tried to be very careful about the privacy of those people, because we recognise we need to do much more work."
Principal environment advisor Ben Fountain, who led work on the policy, said more investigations would be needed to finalise those numbers.
The draft policy made it clear any interventions would be on a voluntary basis by the homeowners.
Council chief executive Wendy Walker said this was the beginning of a long process, and retreating itself would take time.
"As that happens, there will be more [homeowners who] become eligible, almost certainly," she said.
"We need to advocate to central government, because it is not something we would want to take on solely."
Fountain said council was waiting "with bated breath" to see if central government would play a role in financing flood retreat policies.
The draft policy will go out for public consultation before being put forward to the council's next long term plan and the question of financing can be addressed.
Councillor Ross Leggett warned the policy could change before then if central government made moves on flood insurance support.
Government is grappling whether it will set up its own scheme to cover people as private insurers are less willing.