Central Otago flooding sparks evacuations, road closures, cuts power and water supplies

Sunday, 26 November 2017

Residents of a Central Otago town recovering from widespread flooding are being told to expect to be without water until at least Wednesday.

Eight homes flooded and a school sustained 'significant' damage after 42.2 millimetres of rain fell in Roxburgh within a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon.

The flash flooding closed roads, leaving the small town isolated on Monday and residents cleaning up mud and silt.

Stake Highway 8 was damaged north and south of Roxburgh, with large volumes of debris. Crews were trying to clear the road as quickly as possible.

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Roxburgh resident Colin Turner, who was trying to clear the pavement on Monday, said the mud was like 'porridge'.

'It is a great place to live and great community; that is what you have to do this for – for the community.'

The flash flood caused 'devastation'.

'Where there was a 20-foot cavity is now 30 foot deep in rubble. It is just shocking. The water has just washed off a whole hill.'

SCHOOL 'KNEE-DEEP' IN MUD

Roxburgh Area School would remain closed on Tuesday. Principal Gary Pasco said mud and silt was 'well over knee-deep' in some places through the school.

'There is a huge amount and it is really hard to shovel too because it is like fixed cement when it is really wet.'

Volunteers pushed the mud onto the street, then diggers removed it, he said.

'It is a fairly significant event for the town. The school will be up and running as soon as we can.

'We are fortunate the water didn't come through the main part of the school. Our science labs are probably the worst affected. We had quite a bit of water through them, through the offices and labs. We have damage in the foyer area and a couple of the primary classrooms.'

The school would decide on Monday night how long it would be closed for, Pasco said.

'We can't open without water and even then we will have to look at health and safety issues with mud and silt.'

Part-time teacher Dinah Wales helped the clean-up on Monday.

'We came down again this morning and had an army of kids.'

Alexandra resident Roger Marshall was one of dozens from the wider community to help.

'I had a spare day so decided to come down with my shovel … Everyone is rushing around.'

WATER PIPE DAMAGED

A Central Otago District Council (CODC) statement said all of Roxburgh was without water and wastewater on Monday.

'Crews are on site beginning the repairs. However, residents are advised to prepare to be without services until at least Wednesday.

'There is 60 metres of water pipe to be replaced and sewerage pipe damage is not known as yet.'

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said floodwater got into eight Tweed St homes, which were evacuated as a precaution on Sunday evening.

'So there's some silt damage and the other damage you'd expect with flooding, unfortunately.'

The council urged people to maintain 'a high level' of hygiene. 

'It is essential to use safe drinking water for all drinking and cooking. Make sure that you regularly wash hands this is particularly important for children and vulnerable people,' it said. 

WATER TANKERS ARRIVE

Senior Sergeant Ian Kerrisk said the town was 'cut off' on Monday as State Highway 8 remained closed in both directions. 

Millers Flat, south of Roxburgh, was without power, water and communication for a time. 

Fresh drinking water tankers and portable toilets were in place for the town.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) command unit would be at Millers Flat as a point of contact for residents. A council staff member would be available to answer questions.

Council staff door-knocked elderly people's flats and gave residents water. 

'People are encouraged to check on their neighbours, particularly if they are elderly or vulnerable,' the CODC said in a statement.

Water tankers arrived in Roxburgh on Monday morning with drinking water. Lake Roxburgh Village residents were asked to conserve water.

'Portaloos have been sourced and 14 toilets will be in place from early [Monday] afternoon.

'Until these are on site in Roxburgh residents are advised to set up their own system using a large bucket where necessary. Please do not flush your toilet.'

Cadogan said the 'big issue' for the town was its water supply. The main pipe had burst 'so the reservoir emptied in moments'. The transformer that fed the treatment station was 'taken out'.

POWER RESTORED

Power was out to 'a significant portion of the town', including on Monday, but has since been restored.

Phone systems were almost back to normal, though mobile service remained intermittent.

ROADS CLOSED

SH8, between the Roxburgh Hydro Dam (9 kilometres north of Roxburgh) and Millers Flat, was closed on Monday with slips on either side of Roxburgh and in the town, NZ Transport Agency transport system manager Graeme Hall said. That would not change before 10am Tuesday.

'There is a local road detour for people with urgent travel needs in the Roxburgh area, Roxburgh East Rd and Teviot Rd, between the dam and Millers Flat.

'This local road also has some damage so people need to drive carefully. The Roxburgh East road is suitable for [heavy freight] but the bridge into Roxburgh is not.'

1 of 2 wash outs outside if Roxburgh pic.twitter.com/ryqQZNiTBu

— Chanelle (@Chandy229) November 26, 2017

HOMES ISOLATED

Central Otago District councillor Stephen Jeffery, of Teviot Valley, said he was one of several residents 'completely isolated'.

He said the flooding originated from a 'backed up' concrete causeway built due to flooding 'many years ago'.

'It's backed up, so that's where most of the flooding locally came from. It backed up all the way above the highway and then flooded onto the highway.

'All that water that was coming around there has gone all the way around the houses in this area.

'It's certainly made a mess around the gardens; it's shocking.'

Firefighters were kept busy as torrential rain drenched the small town on Sunday. Pumps cleared water from a rest home, school buildings and homes.

30MM OF RAIN IN 30 MINUTES

MetService meteorologist Peter Little said the storm cell moved over the town from about 3.30pm on Sunday.

A weather station at Roxburgh Aerodrome recorded 22.6mm of rain in the hour to 5pm, while a private station recorded about 30mm in the half hour to 4pm, he said. Torrential rain hit Cromwell.

Little said the downpours were highly localised because the storms were slow-moving.

'They're essentially popping up and dropping a lot of rain in one place, whereas a few kilometres up the road it could still be dry,' he said.

'If people like chasing thunderstorms and heavy rain then the next few days will be a good time,' Little said.

MetService said there was a risk of thunderstorms on Tuesday, so residents should have a bag and be prepared to evacuate, the council said. 

TANKER LOCATIONS:

Tankers are in several locations in Roxburgh:

- Beside the Roxburgh Fire Station

- The Baptist Church (corner of Paisley and Scotland streets) 

- Lake Roxburgh Village will have a tanker on the tennis courts by Tuesday morning. 

PORTALOO LOCATIONS:

Public toilets on Scotland St – opposite 103 The Store

CODC Service Centre – Scotland St

King George Park

Baptist Church – corner Paisley and Scotland streets

Fire Station – Branxholme St

Lake Roxburgh Village – the Hydro hall

Elderly Persons Flats – Leitholm Pl