"They want the place improved so they can continue to live there — and that’s on us, to make sure we do it and get started on that process right now and learn from the science, the history and the engineering."
Mr Radich’s comments came during an extensive discussion at the city council on Tuesday about a hazard assessment that showed increasing vulnerability to flooding risks for South Dunedin in the next 75 years, as well as a presentation of seven options for what might be done about this.
The council voted 13-2 to engage with the public on the options, which range from an emphasis on boosting infrastructure defences to large-scale retreat, as well as a status quo approach.
The material came from the South Dunedin Future programme, which was set up by the city council and Otago Regional Council after 2015 floods.
Regional councillors voted 9-2 yesterday to proceed with public consultation — Michael Laws and Gary Kelliher were against.
"It is vitally important that we provide some reassurance to the community, and the insurance companies, that we have taken some action."
Moves to enhance resilience to cope with flooding threats would be coupled with improved amenity and liveability, he said.
However, the mayor appeared to view adaptation as a response that might come after mitigation and improved resilience.
"The adaptation side of things, or having to actually retreat, is a long, long way in the future, I hope."
Cr Jim O’Malley described expected costs as significant, but not crippling.
It was important to factor in where people might need to be moved to, he said.
"We’re unlikely to go to abandonment — we’ll be in some scenario of staying."
"The risks are high and they’re getting higher," she said.
Cr Sophie Barker said she was glad there were options to put in front of the community.
"We absolutely need to give the people of South Dunedin hope."
The two city councillors who voted against were Brent Weatherall and Lee Vandervis.
Cr Weatherall said contemplating a 75-year spend of billions of dollars was "fairyland".
"All options for South Dunedin have an associated dollar value of between 2 and [7.1] billion.
"My view is that these dollar values are not worth the paper they’re written on."
An affordable budget needed to be in the millions, he said.
People who chose to live near the sea should accept their share of the risks, he said, adding that the benefits of living and working in South Dunedin outweighed the risks.
At the regional council, Cr Laws said the human dimension had been missed in the process.
"The very nature of this discussion and the publicity that has already attended this matter has already created concern, fear, anxiety, amongst many householders and businesses in the affected area ... and the implications have also been considered right now by insurers and banks."
Cr Kate Wilson said significant work had been put in and there was no point stopping it now, when the community needed to be involved.
Cr Elliot Weir, who lives in South Dunedin, said the situation would cost money "regardless of what we do" and presentation of options should enable long-term action for affected communities. — Additional reporting Hamish MacLean
