WORKS were under way at the McAlister Street stormwater pumping station and gravity outlet this week.

A crane was being lowered into the station and loud hammering sounds were emitting from inside on Wednesday.

The work follows surface flooding of the area around Peace Street during a heavy rain event on October 3, which saw an investigation of the stormwater system.

The day after the flooding, the council’s infrastructure general manager, Bevan Gray, stated that investigation had shown part of the reason for the flooding had been failure of the floodgate system, which allows the hydralic pressure of water to allow water to flow into the river at low tide.

He said two boulders had been intentionally placed in front of these gates to stop them from opening and operating as usual.

The Beacon asked whether this week’s work was connected to this incident.

Acting Three Waters manager Michael Van Tilburg said the council was conducting a routine assessment, which was standard procedure following a heavy rain event.