New homes damaged in Otago floods set to attract greater scrutiny
Monday, 24 July 2017
The number of homes issued with dangerous building notices will 'grow' after heavy rain brought flooding to parts of Otago.
Authorities are in recovery mode after a region-wide syate of emergency for Otago was lifted on Monday morning.
Work included contacting the residents of 140 evacuated properties, as 'our main focus is information gathering around people', Dunedin City Council's Simon Pickford said.
Most of the affected poperties were on the Taieri Plains and many were in new sub-divisions, likely to attract greater council scrutiny after the recovery stage was over, he said.
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In Dunedin, several buildings affected by slips had been issued with dangerous building notices, meaning residents could not return to their properties until the council had 'surety that it is safe to do so'.
The council was also focused on clearing 25 slips impacting roads on the Otago Peninsula, including some that had cut off the Royal Albatross Centre.
Four homes in Dunedin were issued with dangerous building notices, including one property on Ravenswood Rd and several on the Otago Peninsula.
The number 'will likely grow', Pickford said.
He flew over Henley on Sunday and urged people to stay away from the still-flooded area.
Pickford also confirmed the Sutton Bridge, near Middlemarch, was badly damaged in the flooding.