FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We believe “creating great places” should involve a cost-effective, environmentally sustainable approach to engineering design and construction. We will offer minimum impact approaches to all our projects, the aim being not only to protect our flora, fauna and waterways but also to add environmental value where we can.
We have qualified and skilled civil engineers and for some projects our surveyors can also provide valuable engineering advice and services.
The council’s flood hazard register is created by a large scale hydrographic study and may not take in the intricacies of your specific site. For this reason any flooding identification on your site should not be taken as being 100% correct. Our engineers can carry out a detailed flood assessment to accurately define the levels on your site. That will then enable an analysis as to whether building sites and access to those sites can sit at a required level. The costs of these flood assessments will be dependant upon the scale of the site and the catchment feeding the flood flow. We can provide an estimate of costs for the intial consultation stage.
If there is any engineering work involved in your development you will need the services of an engineer to design these works. This may include earthworks, sediment control, stormwater drainage, stormwater attenuation, stormwater treatment, roading, accessways, wastewater drainage, water reticulation, power and telecommunications and fire fighting compliance.
Engineers will work with Council engineers during the resource consent process and are also required to certify the construction of all works that are constructed as part of a consent. We have a team of skilled engineers that provide these services.
A flood assessment may be required when a proposed development is located within or near a flood-prone area, overland flow path, floodplain, or other area identified by the local council. It is commonly requested to support resource consent applications where development has the potential to affect flood behaviour or be affected by flooding.
A flood assessment evaluates how water moves across and through a site under existing and proposed development conditions. Depending on the project, this may include hydraulic modelling, flood level analysis, overland flow path assessment, and the evaluation of mitigation measures to support a practical, resilient design.
Yes. Many developments in flood-prone areas can proceed, provided flood risks are properly understood and appropriate engineering solutions are incorporated into the design. The most suitable approach depends on the characteristics of the site, council requirements, and the proposed development.
Undertaking a flood assessment early helps identify potential constraints before detailed design begins. This allows flood management measures to be incorporated into the project from the outset, reducing the likelihood of redesign, supporting resource consent applications, and helping address any technical questions raised by council during the assessment process.