Nelson, Tasman region isolated after flooding, main highway to Golden Bay reopens

Sunday, 18 July 2021

A way out of Nelson should reopen by the end of the day as Waka Kotahi NZTA works to reopen roads.

While the floodwaters are receding, some roads remain closed and a boil water notice has been issued for parts of the Nelson region.

The road to Golden Bay reopened on Sunday morning, although closures south of Tapawera road remain in place.

At 10.45am the following State Highways remained closed:

• SH1 Picton to Spring Creek - Flooding. This highway is expected to reopen at midday.

• SH6 Renwick to Rai Valley – Flooding and slips

• SH6 Motupiko to Kohatu - Flooding

• SH6 Inangahua to Westport - High river levels

• SH6 Murchsion to Inangahua - Flooding

• SH63 Renwick to St Arnaud - Flooding

• SH65 Shenandoah to SH6 - Flooding and slips

• SH7 Hanmer Turnoff to Springs Junction (Lewis Pass) - Slip

• SH7 Springs Junction to Reefton – Slip

**READ MORE:

* Man rescued from campervan rooftop by rescue chopper as floodwaters surrounded him

**

NZTA journey manager Tresca Forrester said reopening State Highway 1 was the priority, and the hope was to get a path into Nelson reopened by the end of the day.

”Contractors are aiming to re-open SH1 by midday and we expect to re-open a route through to Nelson by the end of the day via SH6 and SH65. We are also assessing flood damage on SH7 north of Hanmer this morning which completes this critical link.”

The damage was still being assessed, and it was too early to say when other roads would be reopened, she said.

Anyone driving would need to take extra care as there was still surface flooding and debris on the roads.

“With the massive rainfall we’ve just experienced, many areas will remain highly susceptible to slips, or to further flooding if the rain returns. Please keep safe and take extra care out on the roads today.”

Waka Kotahi NZTA confirmed SH60 from Collingwood to Riwaka was open again to all vehicles at 8.30am, after the road had been restricted to 4WD vehicles only on Saturday night.

Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese was among those stranded in Blenheim, after attending a Local Government New Zealand conference.

It was extremely busy there, with people waiting for roads to reopen, however everyone was very understanding of the job at hand for the emergency response teams, she said.

“It’s a massive task, there has been extreme damage.”

Several roads around Murchison were also closed, Nelson Tasman Civil Defence and Emergency Management said.

Matakitaki, Glenroy, and Tutaki roads are closed today for clean up, Lake Rotoroa is also closed and Baignet Rd will be closed until Monday.

Tasman District Council spokesman Chris Choat said the region was now in “clean-up mode”.

The majority of road surfaces had come through unscathed, however the were slips, mud and debris that needed to be cleaned up.

For the most part people could move around the region – they just couldn’t get out, he said.

Anyone driving would need to allow extra time, as some roads would be down to one lane and there could be debris around, he said.

“All caution needs to be taken.”

The effects of the flooding have not been restricted just to roads.

At 6pm on Saturday, the Tasman District Council issued a boil water notice for Brightwater, Eighty Eight Valley and Tapawera due to the high levels of turbidity.

This is expected to stay in place until at least Monday.

Residents were asked to boil their water in a kettle, or keep it at a rolling boil in a saucepan for one minute.

Water should also be boiled for pets, Choat said.

People also had to treat all flood waters as contaminated and keep clear, he said.