Infrastructure Strategy Severe weather events have cost the Council an average of $2.25 million per year over the past five years for emergency reinstatement costs. These types of events are likely to be an ongoing issue. Slips, especially in Marlborough Sounds The geology, soils, topography and climate in some parts of Marlborough combine to create the potential for land instability. The land in the Marlborough Sounds is composed of fractured schist with limited topsoil. This type of land is naturally unstable where it occurs on steep slopes and especially in times of intense rainfall and severe earthquakes. Since the 2016 earthquake, the Council has assessed the impact of a significant earthquake on roads. The November 2016 earthquake had a significant impact on the Council roading network. Initial reinstatement costs were around $6 million. Since the earthquake the frequency of land slips following high rainfall has increased. There is evidence that the earthquake has destabilised embankments and cuttings along some of the road network. Inspections in 2017 have also discovered a number of broken culverts. A programme of culvert replacement has been implemented to be completed in 2018. Council will continue to monitor the roading assets to see if the earthquake has had an impact on the expected life of the assets. If so, the useful lives of assets may need to be reviewed. Flooding, especially in the flat areas We regularly need to close our roads due to flooding. The frequency and size of emergency events appears to be increasing and two significant flood events (repairs costing more than $4 million) have occurred in the past six years. 2018-2028 Long Term Plan Page 182