It showed what could happen now and in the future during very heavy rainfall, Dr Payan said. The new mapping identifies areas where debris floods are more likely to occur and assessed the level of risk for people and property." Dr Payan said the fans had helped make the area great for growing produce and were also where some buildings and infrastructure were located. In 2017, debris floods occurred in Pumpstation, Reservoir, Golf Course and Black Jacks Creeks around Roxburgh. Debris floods were a natural part of how alluvial fans evolved, Dr Payan said.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 15, 2026 15:36 UTC