Questions to ask
Managing stormwater systems to reduce the risk of flooding
For councils
We encourage all managers of stormwater systems to ask themselves where they can improve their management of stormwater systems:
- How extensive is your understanding of your current and future flood risk? What more do you need to know?
- Have you, with your community, defined what the acceptable level of risk is, and the level of protection that your stormwater system needs to provide?
- How do you know whether your stormwater system is delivering the level of service it was designed to deliver?
- How do you know that your maintenance regimes are supporting you in achieving the intended level of service?
- How are you prioritising and planning your work programme to ensure that the stormwater system is achieving, and will continue to achieve, the intended level of service?
- Do you have the right people and skills to deliver your work programme?
We also suggest that councils consider the questions in our reports Reflections from our audits: Investment and asset management and Reflecting on our work about information.
For the community
We encourage you to ask your councillor:
- How often is my house likely to be flooded by stormwater?
- How much protection from flooding is the stormwater system going to give me?
- What actions can I take to reduce the amount of stormwater run-off from my property?
- Is the stormwater system delivering the level of protection it was designed to provide?
- How is the council working to address any issues in delivering the intended level of protection?
- What are the options for addressing those issues?
- How long will it take?
- How much will it cost?