The big wet: Water treatment plant fail, road closures, sand-bagging
The big wet: Water treatment plant fail, road closures, sand-bagging
Around the wider Southland region, the immediate concern on Thursday night wa thes Otautau where the river level was expected to rise to near bridge height.
A Southland-wide state of emergency has been declared with the province hit hard by heavy rain on Thursday.
Earlier in the day the Gore District Council moved to announced a state of emergency on the back of heavyrainful in the district.
In Gore and Mataura the stormwater/wastewater network has been overwhelmed, causing surface flooding and water to threaten homes.
Gore District Mayor Ben Bell urged residents to stay indoors and avoid travel.
Council staff were working overtime to protect property either with sand bags or pumping water.
The Gore council praised the efforts of the Gore Volunteer Fire Brigade which is said to have saved about 20 homes in Gore and Mataura from flooding.
The 40 people who showed up to help with sand-bagging were also thanked.
At 6pm the chair of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, Neville Cook, then signed a regionwide state of emergency declaration.
The declaration was made in order to ensure Emergency Management Southland was able to quickly respond to areas of concern.
Met Service has extended the heavy rain warning until 8pm on Thursday.
Around the wider Southland region, the immediate concern was Otautau community where the river level was expected to rise to near bridge height.
Main St was closed, and bulk filling on both sides of the bridge took place to support the stop bank infrastructure.
A welfare centre has been set up at the Otautau Sports Complex, 20 Hulme Street, and there are volunteers on site. If residents of the township are feeling anxious or unsafe they are welcome to drop by and have a chat.
On Thursday night a boil water notice was issued for the Tuatapere township.
Water should be boiled until further notice. This advice has been issued following inundation of the Tuatapere water treatment plant by floodwaters, causing the plant to fail.
Despite the best efforts of residents to conserve water it is clear that the township's reservoir will run dry before the morning.
Three tankers with drinking water will be stationed throughout Tuatapere some time after 8am on Friday. Other contingencies are being considered.
The water-damaged water treatment plant will not be able to be repaired until floodwaters recede.
At close to 8pm on Thursday the Gore council announced that due to heavy surface flooding, SH1 from Bridge St in Mataura to Ontario St in Gore was now closed.
The river’s peak is not expected to reach Gore until around 6pm on Friday.
While the rain was easing on Thursday night, surface flooding across roads throughout Southland may be contaminated.
Emergency Management Southland group controller Simon Mapp encouraged everyone to avoid contact with the flood water as wastewater and stormwater systems across Southland towns struggled to cope with the volume of water.
“We would encourage people to stay home and off the roads as surface flooding is impacting both town and rural roads. Not all roads affected by flooding will be signposted, so extreme caution is needed.”
Community emergency hubs were opened at the Croydon Lodge in Gore and the Mataura Community Centre for people who need assistance.
Environment Southland continues to monitor river levels. There are a number of rivers that have reached Flood Warning and High River Watch status. You can view the list, here: https://www.es.govt.nz/environment/flood-warning