Tolaga Bay continues to be pummelled with rain, as rural properties still without power

Tuesday, 5 June 2018

Flooding at Anaura Bay on the East Coast, between Tokomaru and Tolaga bays.

High river levels in the remote east coast area around Tolaga Bay have receded, but more rain is expected through the week, with up to 30 rural properties still without power.

State Highway 35 along the coast remained open at 9am on Tuesday, but 12 local roads remained closed as of 2pm.

Photos show flooding at Anaura Bay on Tuesday.

Do you have photos or video of the flooding around the Tolaga Bay area? Email newstips@stuff.co.nz

At least 11 bridges of concern were being assessed by engineers on Tuesday, Tairāwhiti Civil Defence and Emergency Management said.

* Bay of Plenty latest to suffer flooding**

Tairāwhiti Roads journey manager Helen Harris said the most concerning one was the Wigan Bridge on the Tauwhareparae Rd, out of Tolaga Bay.

“The bridge has moved at least 30cm and is twisted. As a result, Tauwhareparae Road from Paroa Road onward will be closed for at least two weeks. Engineers will have more information to us later today.”

Many areas around Tolaga Bay remained flooded on Tuesday, with up to 30 properties still without power.

The other 10 bridges of concern were Mangatokerau Bridge, Paroa Rd, a bridge in Andrews Road, Waiomoko Bridge on SH35 near Whangara, Mangaheia Bridge Nos 1-5, Matai Bridge on Tauwhareparae Rd and Seymours Bridge, Waiomoko Rd, inland of Whangara.

“There are 61 bridges in the affected catchment area that will need to be inspected progressively over the coming days.”

Clearing debris away from underneath the bridges was no easy task with high river levels and difficulty in getting machinery in place, she said.

Horse battle through floodwaters and silt near Tolaga Bay.

“We are working with council’s environmental team to see where we can initially deposit all the debris. We can’t just tip it back into the river.”

MetService forecasted between 30 and 50 millimetres of rain through to 1pm on Tuesday.

Aerial footage shows the extent of the flooding around Tolaga Bay on the North Island's East Coast.

Labour MP Kiri Allan, who is based in the East Coast electorate, was expected to make a visit to the area later on Tuesday to view the damage along with Gisborne district councillor Pat Seymour.

They would meet Uawa area coordinator Pop Milner to view worst-hit infrastructure, flooding and houses in Tolaga Bay and Whangara, Civil Defence said.

Meanwhile, a dead horse was sighted floating in the Waimata River under the William Pettie Bridge.

ALREADY SOAKED

Tolaga Bay received further dumps of heavy rain on Monday night but the Hikuwai River, north of Tolaga Bay, while trending down, remained elevated at about 5.5 metres as of Tuesday morning. The average winter flow is about 2m.

Wigan bridge at Tauwhareparae Road in Tolaga Bay was inundated with logs after the storm on Queens Birthday weekend.

Six crews of roading contractors visited the roads in the wider area on Tuesday, some of which were unable to be reached on Monday.

Harris said some of the bridges were affected by slash (forestry debris), while others were not.

'The clean-up [will] take some time. We're working on how we will best clean up these bridges. Forestry companies are complying with our request to stay off the roads where possible.'

Roads were closed and many rural areas were flooded over Queen's Birthday Weekend.

Heavy rain bands across the district on Monday night saw the Hikuwai River, north of Tolaga Bay, rise to 6.4m.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence emergency manager Louise Bennett said Gisborne District Council's flood warning team would also keep a close eye on developments.

'We feel extremely fortunate that we did not have any fatalities yesterday as the result of the flooding.'

On Monday morning a couple and their granddaughter had to be rescued by a chopper crew from the roof of their house at Tolaga Bay after floodwaters and logs battered the home.

Up to 30 properties in rural areas were without power and phone access on Monday night in the area west of Tolaga Bay.

HOUSES STILL WITHOUT POWER, ROADS CLOSED

Close to 30 properties in the Arakihi Rd area are still without power, Civil Defence said on Tuesday.

Electric company Eastland Network may fly into the area to restore power.

Mata Rd was an accessway and would remain open.

Closed roads are the Paroa, Mangatokerau, Pa, Waiomoko, Arakihi, Kiore, Anaura Bay, Kaiaua, Waihau Bay, Glenroy, Tauwhareparae and Takapau roads.

Paroa and Mangatokerau roads would remain closed until at least 5pm on Wednesday.

Tolaga Bay Area School was open for local children on Tuesday, but many from outlying areas did not attend.