Over the years the sedate 'Tutaenui Stream' (Buckland Stream), once an average 5 feet wide along its entire length through Buckland (PSA) now increases in size after minimal rainfall (24-48hrs)into a raging torrent of horrendous volumes, 25 feet wide in places, speed and eroding the banks and taking everything in its path. Leaving behind debris and chokepoints which only adds to the erosion and blockages further along its course.
We ask ourselves why has this happened? It has happened, firstly through neglect by Auckland Council. Nil maintenance has been carried out on the waterway since 2003. Secondly by the building of numerous sub divisions with little infrastructure and excess stormwater from Pukekohe Hill and Pukekohe Park area being allowed just to enter the stream without being directed to catchment areas or directed further afield.
Million dollar houses being built on the subdivision at 'Glory Way' Buckland back in 2017 which is actually land designated as prone to 'inundation' as it lies on exactly the same level as our garden, a two acre section at the other end of Buckland, Tonkin Place.
We must ask ourselves how was this development allowed? How was it that the developer was allowed to raise the land where these houses were given consent and now properties like 501 Buckland road are under water every time we get more than usual rainfall. During the Auckland flooding and two weeks later 'Gabriel' those houses had river water lapping at their decks!
Auckland Council managed to spend thousand of dollars on stone gabions close to the retail park next to Woolworths in Manukau road when that area was being developed and in Pukekohe Park where the new Watercare treatment plant sits but they somehow have neglected to answer all the concerns of Buckland residents over the past 10 years about the state of our waterway and volume of excess water coming our way!
In Buckland there are two Auckland Council reserves. The 'Buckland Esplande Reserves' - two locations Glenbogle Drive and Tonkin Place, one maintained by Council monthly, the other surrounding our property never maintained, fully overgrown and in need of major maintenance. Numerous reports to the Council over the last 3 years have once again fallen on deaf ears. The reserve area adjacent to Tonkin Place properties was taken by the then Franklin Council in 1997 as part of the planning consent for the properties but they fail to maintain it, resulting in growth of obnoxious weeds as well as the flooding and major erosion due to blockages and downed rotten trees.
The representatives from Auckland Council that have visited the area over the last few years seem only to be in their position for months rather than years, all full of how they can help, what plan of action they are going to devise but for budget constraints etc etc then they do nothing. We then go through the same process year on year to no avail!!
When will Auckland Council front up and sort Buckland 'Tutaenui Stream' once and for all?
- N A Farmer ( A concerned Buckland resident)