PHOTO: Hundreds of people were evacuated when the Waiho River burst its banks near Franz Josef in 2016.
A hotel chain is suing two West Coast councils, claiming it lost more than $30 million after flood water swept through one of its businesses.
The Heartland Mueller Hotel was inundated when the raging Waiho River burst a stopbank about 1 kilometre north of Franz Josef during heavy rain in March 2016.
The flood water deposited gravel and ripped up concrete throughout the hotel and its car park. Dozens of staff and guests had to be evacuated.
Stuff has learned Scenic Hotel Group, the owners of the hotel, recently lodged legal action against the Westland District Council and the West Coast Regional Council, alleging significant failings relating to the monitoring and maintenance of the stopbank.
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