First the pestilence, then the flood - Coromandel farm park's post-lockdown reopening drenched

Sunday, 31 May 2020

The Whiti Farm Park was meant to reopen after 10 weeks in lockdown, but a deluge put a dampener on that.

After one day back in business, a Coromandel farm park has been forced to close indefinitely due to flooding.

Whiti Farm Park, south of Whitianga, was met with an estimated 250mm downpour on Saturday night, hours after reopening their doors since the Covid-19 lockdown.

More wild weather was expected for the upper North Island in the early hours of Monday but Saturday night's deluge had already damaged fences, deposited silt throughout sheds, washed out bridges, and left one Scottish highland cow washed a kilometre downstream.

'There was a lot of shock, then relief, then worry … but we wouldn't still be doing this after 20 years if we let something like this slow us down,' owner Ronnie James said.

The deluge damaged fences, deposited silt throughout sheds, washed out bridges, and left one Scottish highland cow displaced a kilometre downstream.

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There are around 150 animals at Whiti Farm Park, in the Coromandel.

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Despite the optimism, the rain, which comes after a 'catastrophic' drought within the district, has put a dampener on what would have been a grand reopening for the farm park.

The downpour brought down trees, damaged fences, and created slips at the farm park.

James said they had been getting 'everything looking sharp' in anticipation of recommencing.

'We were going to open permanently as of yesterday, and now, if we're lucky, we won't be opening until the next school holidays a month away.

'I'm not even sure we'll be ready then because the weather impacts us a lot.'

The Whiti Farm Park, in the Coromandel, was met with an estimatedÂ 250ml downpour on Saturday night - hours after reopening their doors since the Covid-19 lockdown.

There are around 150 animals at the farm park on State Highway 25, and James estimated it cost more than $3,000 a month to feed them all.

After 10 weeks of being closed due to the Covid-19 lockdown, the park's first full day back in action on Saturday was met with excitement, she said.

'We had a great day yesterday with lots of visitors, and although it was a little rainy in the morning, the sun came out and everyone had a great time.

'We hoped for the same today and tomorrow.'

While that is no longer going to be the case, James hoped to see everyone return when the 'mess' of the farm park is all cleaned up.

Meanwhile, Thames-Coromandel District Council activated their Emergency Operations Centre following a downpour which caused flooding and closed State Highway 25 between Hikuai and Whitianga overnight.

Civil Defence and emergency services personnel were preparing for flooding, slips, gale force winds, road closures and power outages, council said.

'The worst of this storm will be overnight, so it is essential everyone takes all precautions to mitigate what will at best be an uncomfortable night ahead' civil defence controller Garry Towler said.

'Secure outdoor furniture, check gutters and drains in your neighbourhood, check that your neighbours are OK, set up gas appliances and torches in case power goes out, charge phones and then just hunker down.

'It will be over by mid-afternoon on Monday,' he said.

Towler issued a plea to all travellers, especially motorhome travellers, to stay put and do not attempt to get off the Coromandel until the bad weather passes.

Driving conditions will be tough with wind gusts in excess of 100kph, enough to tip motor homes, as well as caravans and trucks, he said.

'We have been safe with Covid-19, lets be safe with this one as well. It will pack a punch.'

According to MetService, the Coromandel Peninsula could expect to see 120-160mm of rain to accumulate between the hours of 1pm Sunday to 6pm Monday.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said temporary speed limits and traffic management were in place in a number of locations, and contractors were working to clear waste and debris.