Flooding brings major spring blow for farmers

WARWICK SMITH/Manawatu Standard

TAKE A SEAT: Cecil Martin sits in his neighbour's back garden in Vernon Ave, Palmerston North.

MURRAY WILSON/Manawatu Standard

STAND TALL: Ethan Stevenson, 10, in the back garden of his grandparents' house on State Highway 2, south of Pahiatua.

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Farmers were this morning hoping the rain wouldn't pick up as they started assessing the damage caused by the flooding.

For some it would be a matter of counting dead stock and the clean-up cost.

"There's not much you can do, you can't push old sheep," said Shannon farmer Bronwyn McIntyre, who lost about 20 ewes worth $2400.

Manawatu-Rangitikei Federated Farmers president Gordon McKellar said farmers always felt helpless when waters started rising and there could be financial problems associated with the flooding.

"You can't do a lot immediately, all you can do is keep your stock on higher ground, assess the damage and keep an eye on the forecast," Mr McKellar said.

"This is an one-in-five-year flood, and although most farmers are ready for this type of weather, it will put a setback on spring."

While rural families were worst hit, people in the city were also affected, with waters rushing through Palmerston North streets, forcing a number of road closures in Takaro.

A dozen sandbags offered little protection to residents on Vernon Ave as it filled with water. The area around Gloucester St was plagued by similar problems, with many of the elderly residents being trapped inside their homes.

- © Fairfax NZ News