Heavy rain on the way for Northland as clean-up continues
Sunday, 19 July 2020
The Northland region is in clean-up mode following a deluge of rain that flooded homes and damaged roads.
While the worst may be over, MetService said more rain, which at times will be heavy, could hit the area again on Sunday.
MetService meterologist Rob Kerr said Gisborne, also hard-hit by flooding, could be in for more rain.
”In Northland, we’re seeing an easing trend. There could be one or two thunderstorms on Sunday and some showers later in the day, but nothing as severe as Friday and Saturday.”
**READ MORE:
* Worst of the storms over, but Northlanders should still expect more rain
* Two men and six dogs rescued after tractor gets stuck in Northland flooding
* Northland businesses begin clean up after floods wash out shops
* Welfare centre activated, tornado off coast, motorists stranded as thunderstorms hammer Northland
**
The rainfall in Northland has been described as a “once in a 500-year rainfall event”, and Murray Soljak, a spokesperson for the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management group, said fixing the roads would be “extensive and expensive”.
Extensive flooding in Whangārei ruined at least $100,000 worth of stock belonging to Mitre 10 Mega.
Owner Peter Rogers-Jenkins said the stock was in off-site storage facilities. The Porowini Ave store was not spared either, with extensive flooding inside.
“The garden centre was completely trashed,” Rogers-Jenkins said.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand responded to more than 200 weather-related incidents in Northland between 6pm Friday and 5.30am Saturday. The majority of the call-outs were due to flooding in the Northland and wider Whangārei areas.
A police spokeswoman said a handful of homes in Whangārei and Paihia were evacuated, including one in Kensington where a person and their cat were taken to safety.
Two people in the far north area of Tāheke were also caught in the storm’s crossfire and had to be rescued after they became trapped in their vehicle in the early hours of Saturday morning.
WATER TREATMENT PLANT REOPENS
Storm debris and silt damaged the Paihia Water Treatment Plant, which saw households and businesses from Waitangi to Opua urged to reduce water consumption while repairs were made.
The plant reopened on Sunday, following provisional repairs overnight.
Far North District Council infrastructure and asset management general manager Andy Finch said the priority now was to recharge storage reservoirs to ensure backup supplies were available.
Finch thanked people for reducing water consumption on Saturday.
“This helped get us through the immediate crisis. However, we still need all those connected to the Paihia supply from Waitangi to Opua to continue conserving water for the time being while reservoirs refill,” he said.
Finch said it would take at least two days for the reservoirs to re-charge, particularly the large Paihia reservoir.
Meanwhile, the ponds at the Russell Wastewater Treatment Plant were no longer overflowing and the plant was working at full capacity to meet demand, Finch said.
“As long as there are no further heavy rainfalls, the plant will continue to recover.”
People were advised not to collect shellfish or swim in the wider Uruti Bay area for at least five days, after a spill.
The Council said all harbours in the district should be treated with caution following very heavy rains, as waterways would likely be impacted by farm runoff or private septic tanks inundated by flood waters.
NORTHLAND ROADS REOPEN
NZTA said most of Northland’s state highway network had reopened on Sunday, except SH1 through the Mangamuka Gorge, but motorists needed to take care and drive to the conditions which could change quickly.
“Motorists are advised to check the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency travel information website for latest updates because the situation could rapidly change with rivers already high and the ground saturated after days of exceptionally heavy rain,” Waka Kotahi Northland System Manager, Jacqui Hori-Hoult said.
“Drive to the conditions, keep your speed down and watch out for unexpected road hazards like potholes where flood waters have receded. More rain could lead to renewed surface flooding in low-lying areas and slips.”
Though the roads are open, caution was advised at Taumarere on SH11 Paihia to Kawakawa and at Moerewa on SH1. The Taheke Bridge on SH12 is now open to one lane of traffic.
Last night SH1 through the Loop Road roundabout construction site reopened to two lanes of traffic after a 30-metre section of the road had been washed out. Road crews would be fixing potholes, Hori-Hoult said.
With schools returning tomorrow, motorists are reminded to allow extra time for their journeys on this route.
In the Far North, there are at least eight significant slips, both across and under the road, through the Mangamuka Gorge. SH1 is closed from Makene Road to Victoria Valley Road.
The biggest slip is just north of the summit and fully blocking the road, with about 5,000 cubic metres of earth and fallen trees to be cleared.
There are two slips either side of the summit slip and one is still moving following the recent heavy rain.
The road is likely to remain closed for several days while the slips and state of the road are assessed. The detour route is SH10 which will add 20-30 minutes to most journeys.
Meanwhile, Gisborne has also been experiencing heavy rain and flash flooding, causing slips in the area and some residents to self-evacuate.
Uawa Civil Defence deputy officer Nori Parata said three families were evacuated from Mangatokerau in the early hours of Saturday morning, spending the night with family.
Roads around the Tairāwhiti region were still “treacherous” a spokeswoman for the Gisborne District Coucnil said.
”Roads are still closed and contractors were out early this morning clearing debris and assessing the network.
“People are being encouraged not to travel unless absolutely necessary and to please respect road closures.”
SH35 remains closed from Tolaga Bay to Makarika Road, just south of Ruatorea but it is hoped this will be opened by Sunday afternoon.
Kerr confirmed the worst of the rain was also over for the area and the main front was now over the South Island.
In the Coromandel, State Highway 25A and State Highway 25 between Opoutere and Hikuai were also closed due to slips caused by recent heavy rain in the area.
SH25A between Kopu to Hikuai is expected to remain closed until at least late afternoon on Sunday, a NZTA spokesperson said.
SH25 between Hikuai and McBeth Rd in Opoutere will also remain closed.