In the aftermath of the recent floods, Western Bay of Plenty District Council is inviting everyone to come and talk with the Council team about stormwater in Waihī Beach.

"Do you have a pātai about Waihī Beach's stormwater system or want to kōrero on our plans to protect Two Mile Creek from further erosion? Join us at a community information session dedicated to answering your questions," says a council spokesperson.

The stormwater information session on Monday June 19 will be a chance to learn why the May 29 flooding did so much damage.

It will also be an opportunity to ask the Council team questions about the stormwater system in Waihī Beach – what's happened historically and what's planned in the future.

People can also find out more about an upcoming stormwater project to protect Two Mile Creek from erosion.

Stormwater information session details:

Date: Monday June 19
Time: 3-6pm
Location: Waihī Beach Community Centre

"The Katikati-Waihī Beach Community Forum scheduled for Wednesday June 14 at the Bowentown Boating and Sport Fishing Club has been cancelled, providing us time to prepare for this information session."

Council Deputy CEO and General Manager Infrastructure Group, Gary Allis says that it's natural for everyone to have questions following the flash flooding on May 29.

'One hour of intense rainfall has caused substantial damage, left our community in shock and given us all an enormous mess to clean up.

'This event will take a lot of time to recover from, but now that the immediate danger has passed, we'd like to use this opportunity to address people's concerns and talk about the causes of flooding and the effects it has on your community.”

Gary says Councils' stormwater network was simply unable to respond to an event of that magnitude on May 29.

"There were no failures in the stormwater system; it was overcome by the amount water and by the following day the stormwater system had returned to normal levels."

Typically, Council's piped stormwater network is designed to cater for a one in five-year storm event and the overland flow path - where the stormwater should flow when the underground pipe network can no longer cope - is designed for a one in 50-year storm event.

"The event experienced in May was higher than what the system has been designed for."

Two Mile Creek

"We'll also be showing the community our plans to protect Two Mile Creek from further erosion, with contractors, engineers, and the Council team on hand to discuss what we're planning."

Gary says this is an important project as there's no alternative waterway to direct stormwater down and properties either side have already suffered from erosion.

'During heavy rain spells, a huge amount of water hits the ground looking for somewhere to go.

'That water has to get out to the ocean somehow, and the best, safest and only way for that to happen is via Two Mile Creek. And because the creek backs onto one of Waihī Beach's main thoroughfares, there's significant public benefit in protecting the land.”

The Two Mile Creek stream protection project will see local firm Beach Contractors placing rock armouring along a 320m section of Two Mile Creek to protect this important waterway from erosion.

The work will take place on most properties from 45 Edinburgh, downstream to the Dillon Street bridge, and on the opposite side of the creek with properties along Wilson Road.

The project will take place over a year, with work stopping to allow for fish migration from August and again over the summer holiday period.

The project is part of Council's Stormwater Strategy, which the public shared their thoughts on through the Long Term Plan 2015-25.

The works are being funded by the Stormwater Uniform Targeted Rate due to the importance of Two Mile Creek in the wider stormwater network for Waihī Beach.