Clean-up after flooding begins

BY JESSICA SUTTON

Central North Island residents are today assessing damage to their properties after some areas experienced 300mm of rainfall yesterday.

Emergency operation centres were activated in Horowhenua, Manawatu, Rangitikei and Tararua due to the deluge. Tararua also operated its civil defence measures, including a welfare centre in Pahiatua.

Major roads were closed yesterday and Palmerston North was nearly cut off from the rest of the country with sections of the Manawatu Gorge and State Highways 56, 57, 2 and 1 all shut because of severe surface flooding.

Sections of The Gorge and State Highways 56 and 57 still remain closed and cleanup crews are continuing to remove large slips from main roads and also rural roads that has caused access problems for some farmers.

At least three schools - Mangamaire School, Ruahine School and Tararua College  - were closed yesterday and about 60 residents were forced to flee rising waters in Pahiatua after the Mangatainoka River rose to 100-year record levels.

The rain began to ease about 4pm and water levels recede, with Tararua,  the worst hit of the  regions, deactivating its Civil Defence measures at 10.15pm.

The Moutoa and Makino floodgates were opened last night to allow excess flows down the floodways and ease river levels.

MetService forecaster Oliver  Druce said between 200 and 300 millimetres of rain fell in the Tararua Range yesterday, while in the low-lying areas, including Palmerston North, Levin, Pohangina and Pahiatua, it varied from 40mm to 100mm.

Mr Druce said heavy rain fall was  predicted to hit the central North Island this afternoon, but Horowhenua and Manawatu would be largely unaffected.

However, rivers in Whanganui and Rangitikei are this morning continuing to rise.

State Highway Network Update as at 4pm Monday. Source: NZTA

Manawatu Gorge - CLOSED

• SH3- Manawatu Gorge - CLOSED

• Gorge Detour Routes if required:SADDLE RD down to one lane on Woodville side due to a slip but currently passable, contractors on site clearing. TDC have advised access to PAHIATUA TRACK unlikely on Tararua side due to many road closures in this area.

Horowhenua

• SH1 - Koputaroa - Surface Flooding
• SH1 - Reports of Flooding SH1/Kimberly across both lanes
• SH56 - Opiki Straights - flooding
• SH57 - flooding 1km south Tokomaru
• SH57 - Levin to Linton reports of slips and flooding
• SH57 - Roadside drain flooding at Shannon.

Manawatu

• SH1/3 Ohakea to Sanson Surface Flooding
• SH1/3 Intersection Sanson - Surface Flooding
• SH1 - Oroua Downs - Surface flooding on southbound lane
• SH1 - Rosina Road intersection flooding both lanes
• SH3 - Newbury - Surface Flooding - one lane at passing lane.
• SH3 - Surface flooding near RRR Engineering
• SH3 Awahuri - drains full - possibility of flooding
• SH3 - 5km south of Sanson (Mt Stewart) small slips and flooding
• SH3 - Near Mt Stewart Memorial - Slip
• SH54 - Newbury/Milson Line Intersection - flooding ¾ across Palmerston North bound lane
• SH56 - Opiki Straights - flooding

Palmerston North

• SH56- Longburn to Palmerston North - Roadside drains flooding
• SH57- Camp Road intersection flooding
• SH57 - Levin to Linton reports of slips and surface flooding

Rangitikei

• SH1- Calico Line Marton - Closed due to flooding - Detour in place through RDC local roads, however there is a possibility of closure. RDC and Contractors working to try keep open.
• SH3- Ratana - Open to one lane - Flooding and Large Slip
• SH1 - Mangaweka - Minor Rock Falls
• SH1 Vinegar Hill - Fallen Trees and Slips affecting both Lanes
• SH1 - Coleman Road Intersection Marton, Flooding both lanes
• SH1- Hunterville - possible blocked drain.
• SH3- Turakina Flooding across both lanes

Tararua

• SH2- Pahiatua To Eketahuna - Closed due to flooding especially the Konini Area, detour routes unavailable as also affected by flooding.

 Wanganui

• SH3- Wanganui south - Closed due to local stream flooding.
• SH3- Wanganui west from Kai Iwi to Maxwell, slip in passing lane

- © Fairfax NZ News