Our services

On this page…

• Reports
• Solutions
  • Non-engineering methods
  • Engineering methods
• Body Corporate support
• Advocacy

Reports

We provide reports on

• Solving property flooding problems
• Denied flood insurance cover, or excessive flood policy renewal costs
• Check before you buy, identifying the flood risk and mitigation
• Honest broker in dealing with Auckland Council
• Navigating building and resource consents.

Our approach is based on New Zealand Standard NZS 9401:2008 Managing flood risk – A process Standard, which is a process standard that provides a risk-based approach for the comprehensive management of flood risk.

NZS 9401:2008 states that the effective management of flood risk requires a clear understanding of both the natural and social systems in which flood risk management occurs. This involves

• An understanding of the interaction between the natural and social systems and the opportunities and constraints of this interaction
• A robust and comprehensive risk management process that addresses all the key aspects of flood risk management such as consideration of all mitigation options, adaptive management, and the management of residual risk
• An ongoing monitoring and evaluation process to ensure appropriate outcomes are being achieved.

Behind every challenge lies an opportunity for unparalleled assistance. We understand the intricacies of your needs and are committed to providing prompt assistance every step of the way.

Solutions

We look at all the possible causes of flooding that has affected your property and come up with a wide range of solutions to reduce flood risk as much as possible. The solutions include non-engineering and engineering methods.

Non-engineering methods

• Providing solar powered rain gauges for property clusters to enable residents to monitor rainfall, provide alarms and take preventive action;
• Providing residents details of the expected flood levels so that they can store belongings above the waterline if possible, and take other preventive measures;
• Work with Auckland Council and neighbours to ensure there are no obstacles in overland flowpaths, including ensuring that fences are permeable;
• Placing warning signs along overland flowpaths “Flood prone area, keep clear”;
• Establish Flood Readiness Groups, and an early warning community alarm network;
• Having a stock of temporary barriers, and/or installing permanent barriers; and
• “Making space for water”. Restoring streams and floodplains. Recontouring of land to restore the natural floodplains; e.g., lowering the ground level adjoining the stream to reduce the depth of flood waters.

Engineering methods

• Includes a mix of nature based (blue/green) and infrastructure (grey) solutions, which specifically address the flood issues in each cluster and include a combination of:
• Requesting Auckland Council to carry out:
  – Urgent initial stream clearing and removal of blockages/slips; and annual stream maintenance programme thereafter.
  – Targeted stream widening, restoration and riparian margin improvements. Note that straightening of streams is not recommended as it has major adverse flow and ecological effects and is very costly.
  – Infrastructure upgrades of pipelines bridges and culverts.
• Build flood walls or stop banks around properties.
• Lift houses that have a floor level less than 0.5m above the 1 in 100 Year flood level.
• Relocate houses on the section, for houses that have a floor level less than 0.5m above the 1 in 100 Year flood level.

Body Corporate support

We provide support for property body corporates to meet their legal obligations, strategies, operational needs, delivery of projects and services, including

• Honest broker, navigating Auckland Council building and resource consents and regulatory
  compliance. Ensuring performance and accountability for professionals engaged.
• Providing advice on Body Corporate remedial work.
• Preparation of contract documents and managing the tendering process.
• Contract and project management.
• Preparation of 10-Year long-term maintenance plan, including
  • Identifying future maintenance requirements and estimating the costs involved
  • Supporting the establishment and management of the funds
  • Calculating basis for the levying of owners of principal units
  • Providing ongoing guidance to the body corporate to assist in making annual
    maintenance decisions.

Advocacy

Behind every challenge lies an opportunity for unparalleled assistance. We understand the
intricacies of your needs and are committed to providing prompt assistance every step of the way.