Rain is beginning to ease, however Civil Defence personnel remain on high alert as state of emergency for Dunedin City continues and the clean-up work begins after Otago was battered by a wild storm.
The region woke to severe flooding, slips and other damage and multiple road closures after a night of heavy rain that continued for part of Saturday.
The flooding on the Taieri, near Dunedin, was the second worst on record, the Otago Regional Council said.
Dunedin recorded 89mm of rain 24 hours, making it the wettest July day on record. Records began in 1918 and previous record was 75.8mm on July 30 in 2007.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull says it appeared the worst of the severe storm that belted the Otago region had ended - but the emergency isn't over.
Aerial surveys of flooding in coastal Otago have begun. There had been widespread flooding and disruption across Waitaki, Dunedin and Clutha, as well as flooding and snow in parts of Central Otago.
There were widespread road closures in the Dunedin area.
About 220 homes were evacuated overnight across the region from Oamaru to Milton and inland to the Ida Valley. Around 100 of those are in Outram near Dunedin Airport. The airport remained open on Saturday.
The Army assisted the Civil Defence in rescuing nine people trapped in and on cars on State Highway 87 about 2.30am this morning. A unimog transported the occupants to safety. About the same time Civil Defence was helping transport people from at least 100 Outram homes evacuated after the lower part of the town was inundated.
Multiple slips in Dunedin
Contractors around Dunedin were assessing multiple major slips around the city on Saturday.
Dunedin Civil Defence Controller David Campbell says Dunedin City Council staff, contractors, emergency services and Civil Defence personnel continued to respond as quickly as they could to weather-related issues, based on priority.
Mr Campbell said the main areas of concern were the Taieri River, which remained high, slips and other widespread issues throughout the roading network.
Ravenswood St in St Clair was closed and 12 houses had been evacuated due to a slip. People must stay out of the area until further notice. There were approximately 25 other slips on roads across the city, many of them on the Otago Peninsula.
A slip on Harington Point Rd just past the turnoff to Harwood was still moving, and clearance work on this would not start until at least Monday.
Residents on the Otago Peninsula north of Harwood are effectively cut off, with no alternative access route available. Members of Otakou marae carried out door-knocking in the area and have supported welfare needs.
Progress was being made on clearing slips on Portobello Road. It was expected to be open all the way to Tidewater Drive, Harwood to residents only from 5.30pm on Saturday. However, there was surface water and debris on many parts of the road.
Mr Campbell said contractors continue to clear slips based on priority. Motorists should avoid all non-essential travel today across the roading network, but particularly in the Taieri and Peninsula areas. Do not go rubbernecking.
“People need to be aware there will be widespread debris and damage on roads, and motorists will not be able to tell the depth of floodwaters,” he said.
A slip on the Leith Valley slip was about 500m north of the Malvern and Fulton Sts and has forced mud and trees across the width of the road and brought down power lines. Contractors are on site assessing the damage.
Frasers Gully track was closed because of two significant slips. The Dunedin City Council has asked people to stay away from the area.
Taieri watched
Rivers were receding on Saturday night, with the exception of the Taieri, which was still fluctuating at high levels.
The Taieri River was expected to remain high regardless of whether more rainfall occurs.
Sandbags and rocks have been used to plug most of a hole that was letting water back under the pumphouse at pressure from the Taieri into Mill Creek.
The position was considered stable and was being closely monitored on Saturday night.
Dunedin Civil Defence Controller Sandy Graham says motorists should avoid all non-essential travel across the roading network, but particularly in the Taieri and Peninsula areas.
“The forecast is for rain to ease today, but a state of emergency continues and DCC staff, contractors, emergency services and Civil Defence personnel continue to respond as quickly as they can to weather-related issues based on priority,” Ms Graham said.
“The Taieri River is expected to remain very high for some time due to the heavy rain which has fallen in the headwaters.”
From Friday morning to 7am on Saturday, about 223mm of rain was recorded at Swampy Spur, and 114mm at Riccarton Road near Mosgiel. Musselburgh had recorded about 81mm.
“People need to be aware there will be widespread debris and damage on roads, and motorists will not be able to tell the depth of floodwaters. Avoid non-essential travel today and do not go rubbernecking,” Ms Graham said.
“If anyone is travelling, please be aware that contractors have run out of flooding signs. Please drive with caution. Not every area with surface flooding is signposted. We are looking to source more signs.”
The Lindsay Creek in Dunedin was also being closely monitored due to its proximity to the Otago Hospice.
Big slip in St Clair
The slip in the Dunedin suburb of St Clair occurred on Saturday morning in Ravenswood Rd, and police evacuated three homes in the area as a precaution.
The slip had been flowing from Ravenswood Rd to Bedford St. Streets around the area were closed to traffic.
Otago roads affected
Several roads and highways remain closed due to flooding, and several roads in the Central Otago District are also affected by snow.
NZTA advised the following state highways were closed from Saturday afternoon:
SH1 Milton to Balclutha
SH1 Balclutha to Waihola
SH1 Pukeuri to Kurow
SH8 Raes Junction to Milton
SH8 Roxburgh to Raes Junction
SH90 Waikoikoi to Tapanui
SH88 Maia to Sawyers Bay
SH87 Kokonga to Kyeburn
A number of fords and roads will remain closed until they have been properly assessed.
• A full list of road closures and conditions is available online at www.dunedin.govt.nz/road-conditions. State highway closures are on the NZ Transport Agency website at http://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/.
State of emergency continues
A state of emergency continues and DCC staff, contractors, emergency services and Civil Defence personnel are responding as quickly as they can to weather-related issues.
The council said motorists should not go sightseeing, or put themselves or others at risk.
Residents who were evacuated from their homes on Friday and Saturday were advised to remain evacuated over Saturday night. Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management recommended Bush Road/Mill Creek residents to especially do so as the river level remained high and the ability to monitor the stability of the area during darkness was limited.
Dog owners taking their dogs along the Silverstream Flood Bank track in Mosgiel were advised to take extreme care.
“The high rainfall in the Silverstream catchment may sweep possum carcsses poisoned with 1080 downstream. Keep dogs on a lead at all times; carcasses will be extremely toxic. OSPRI has been asked to patrol at first light and remove any carcasses.”
Anyone wanting to report flood-related issues with DCC services should call (03) 477-4000 to report it. Anyone who feels their safety is in danger or who has water entering their house or business should call emergency services on 111.
Residents in low-lying areas who feel concerned can self-evacuate. If you choose to evacuate and need help to do so, please call the DCC on (03) 477-4000.
Information Centres
The Dunedin City Council is still operating two information centres, in South Dunedin and Mosgiel, as places where people can go for more information. The centres are currently staffed and are located at:
Mosgiel – Fire Station Theatre, 3 Cargill Street
South Dunedin – The Mercy Room, Catholic Social Services, 42 Macandrew Road
General preparedness
If your basement is prone to flooding lift items that could be damaged by water off the floor. Be sure garden sprays and other chemicals won’t be affected
Check grates near your house for blockages and keep them clear of leaves and other debris to avoid water building up and affecting your property.
For the public to keep up to date with what is happening and for advice about what to do if the rain gets worse, please see the DCC website, DCC social media, listen to the radio and use other media.
Please refer family, friends and neighbours to these communication channels.
