Next time Ashburton District residents are asked to prepare for a flood event, they’ll be able to make their own sandbags to help prevent surface flooding from entering their homes and garages.

A community sandbag station, equipped with sand, bags and instructions, will be made available by Ashburton Contracting Limited (ACL) and Ashburton District Council on the corner of William and South Streets. There’ll be instructions on how to fill the bags and residents will only need to bring their own shovels.

Group Manager of Compliance and Development Ian Hyde said the community sandbag station had been organised by Council’s Emergency Management Officer Jim Henderson.

“It’s a fill-your-own sandbag operation and there’ll be hessian bags and mini hoppers to help fill the bags. The set-up costs were just under $1000 and will come out of the Civil Defence Emergency Management budget.

“Sandbags are useful, but they do have limitations and homeowners who might need them will already be aware of the potential flooding risk at their properties. A sandbag wall is only practical for surface flooding, it will not protect properties if rivers burst their banks.”

Ahead of severe weather where flooding is likely, ACL will deposit 10 cubic metres of sand at the bagging station and the community will be alerted it is available.

Mr Hyde said that sandbags had helped divert surface water from getting into homes and garages during the 2021 floods, and three other past weather events.

“Previously those sandbags were supplied at various sites on a case-by-case basis, but now there’ll be an official sandbag station and people will know where to go and what to do, without having to call Council or emergency services.

“It’s important that people can look after themselves when an emergency happens, as Civil Defence, Council and emergency services will be focused on preserving life and protecting key infrastructure such as roads, water and sewage. It’s unlikely they’ll be able to assist with sandbagging individual properties.”

Residents will be responsible for disposing of the sandbags after the weather event.