Flooding worse on low corner home

Queenstown Lakes District Council-supplied sandbags outside Val McMillan’s Arrowtown home to help with frequent flooding issues.PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER

Val McMillan has had problems with heavy rain over the 33 years she has owned her Adamson Dr corner property, as her home is lower than the surrounding road and path.

During a downpour in early July, water lapped at her front entrance and, urged on by neighbours, she called council staff after working hours, and they left her with sandbags.

Mrs McMillan (83) said the problem had got worse and more frequent this year, with water running down her driveway, through her woodshed and creating a duck pond of her rear neighbours’ lawn.

‘‘This year has not been good for heavy rain.’’

She believed the problem stemmed from Adamson Dr property owners only having a ditch, rather than stormwater drainage, to handle major rain events - which she thought was a bit on the nose considering the area’s high property values.

Queenstown Lakes District Council property and infrastructure general manager Peter Hansby said the council had been in contact with Mrs McMillan’s family throughout.

‘‘Contractors were able to remediate some of the immediate issues, including providing sandbags as a temporary measure to divert floodwater.’’

Work on a ‘‘‘long-term fix’’ started last week, Mr Hansby said.