Clean-up efforts underway following weekend of wild weather for Kāpiti

Council is reminding residents to take care along the coastal areas of Kāpiti following the weekend’s weather.

Crews are checking the impact of the high winds and high tides on the district’s drainage systems, beach access ways and roads, for damage and debris.

Beach access is limited in Paekākāriki and Paraparaumu, due to a build-up of debris, washed out steps, and eroded sections of the seawall.

Group Manager Infrastructure Services Sean Mallon says the Council has responded to about a dozen calls from residents relating to the weather in a 24-hour period from midnight Saturday.

“The clean-up is likely to continue for most of today, so our residents can expect to come across work crews and machinery throughout the district at any time,” he says.

“We do want to remind people to be patient while the clean-up is done and continue to be careful around coastal areas where there may be debris or damage.

"Our priority is public safety and because sections of the seawall and steps that help access the beach have been washed away or damaged, we're urging people to be careful and reconsider their walk along the beach."

Requests for service have come for things such as surface flooding, blocked sumps, broken trees branches and debris on roads and beaches.

There have been several calls in regards to trees, including some on private properties, and a few calls relating to flooding of garages in Te Horo, due to the high tidal surges, and one other sleep-out in Otaihanga that was affected.

The clean-up is underway and council staff will continue to check and clear critical sumps, coastal carparks and beach outlets this week.

"We're working hard to get to call-outs and on to the clean-up efforts as soon as we can, but more in-depth assessments of the damage and erosion to the seawalls and coastal areas will take a little longer and will be on-going this week.”

Trees and branches have been cleared from Old Hautere Road in Te Horo, Mahaki Road in Nikau Valley and in Pinewood Grove, Guildford Drive and Mazengarb Road in Paraparaumu.

Further work will be happening at William Street, Fairway Oaks, and Te Moana Road in Waikanae and in Aorangi Road, Paraparaumu and The Avenue and Scott Ave in Ōtaki Beach.

The footbridge in Raumati near the beach across the Wharemaku Stream also remains temporarily closed off to ensure public safety.