Council considers Bexley flood fix
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Thirteen properties could be bought by the Council under a plan to address flooding problems in the Aranui and Bexley areas.
A report to be considered by the Council on Thursday recommends creating storage and treatment ponds next to the new Knights Drain pump station to reduce the risk of flooding and improve the quality of water discharges to the Avon River.
Steps are being taken to reduce the flooding risk in the Bexley and Aranui areas.
It recommends buying about 13 properties within the triangle between Knights Drain, Pages Road and Anzac Drive to allow for the storage area.
Other options considered by staff and outlined in the report include putting a storage pond in:
- Farnborough Street
- Residential red zone
- Bexley Park
Staff are recommending the Knights Drain site because it provides the most resilient option to address climate change. It will also improve water quality by removing up to 85 per cent of total suspended sediment and reducing other contaminants.
Council staff have also recommended upgrading the existing Knights Wetland and realigning Knights Drain. They recommend that the storm water flow be diverted to the ponds via a new connection from Knights Drain.
Along with improving residents’ peace of mind, the proposal will benefit the local environment and reduce pond maintenance, the report says. Landscaping and tree planting will provide a habitat for a wide range of wildlife, potentially including threatened bird species.
It’s proposed that the work will be delivered under the Land Drainage Recovery Programme.
Council staff have budgeted up to cost $3.5 million for the property purchase and $4.5 million for the pond design and construction.