Residents in the Whakatāne District’s major urban areas have been urged to rake up leaves on their properties and clear leaves and debris from their local stormwater grates to avoid possible damage from surface flooding.

Most of the callouts attended to by Whakatāne District Council staff and contractors during two heavy rain events in the past week have involved stormwater ponding caused by blocked cesspit grates.

Council Infrastructure General Manager Tomasz Krawczyk says gutters are regularly swept to remove leaves and litter, but this year’s late leaf-fall has created ongoing problems. “Leaves being blown from street trees and trees on private properties, and then washed into road gutters by rain run-off, is often an issue in autumn and early winter, but this year, the incidence of blocked grates has been more widespread than usual,” he says.

“We would ask people to rake up leaves on their properties and also keep an eye on the stormwater grates in their neighbourhoods. If grates are obviously clogged with leaves and debris, it only takes a couple of minutes to clear them out, but that can make all the difference if heavy rain does arrive. Putting the leaves and other loose material up onto the road edge, away from the grate, will allow the rain run-off to flow away and greatly decrease the likelihood of surface flooding affecting nearby properties.”

Mr Krawczyk says anyone who notices a blocked grate, but isn’t able to clear it out, can contact the Council’s Customer Services team on 07 306 0500 for assistance.