Contractors battle to reopen roads

SARAH YOUNG

Hundreds of people across the Nelson region remain cut off and in need of supplies, as contractors work to get roads reopened.

An aerial assessment of the region yesterday showed significantly more damage than expected, particularly in Ligar Bay, Totaranui, Pohara Valley and Cable Bay.

Slips in Nelson city alone now number about 230, with the worst being in the Port Hills, the Brook Valley, the Grampians, North Nelson and Walter's Bluff.

Civil Defence is asking people to stay off the roads where possible to allow contractors to get through.

Rocks Rd, one of two main routes into the city, was still closed this morning, along with many other roads in the region.

NZ Transport Agency operations manager Mark Owen said it hoped to reopen the road early this afternoon, although it would be with reduced lane widths, and no cyclist access.

The road was now clear, and the rockface above it would be assessed again today, but whether it could reopen depended on the status of houses in the area, he said.

"[Civil Defence] have put a bit of a halt on things at the moment. We're waiting for them to give the OK."

It was hoped that a section of the road between Takaka and Collingwood, closed by a slip at Bird's Hill, would be reopened to one lane this afternoon, but this could be delayed by further rain or slipping.

"We're aware that milk needs to get out, too, and we're talking with Fonterra about all the options," Mr Owen said. These included piping milk between trucks on either side of the slip.

Civil Defence public information manager Angela Ricker said the flyover revealed "a lot of problems" in Ligar Bay, which was in "pretty bad shape", with more slips and houses damaged than expected, as well as dozens of significant slips in Cable Bay, which has been completely cut off.

Power is out in the area, and estimates are that it will be about two or three weeks before the roads can be cleared.

The Nelson Mail yesterday organised a boatload of supplies to take in to residents who were running low on water and basic supplies.

Civil Defence was expecting to fly in another two days' worth of supplies this afternoon, Ms Ricker said.

Several residents have evacuated to neighbours' properties.

Collingwood, Totaranui, Wainui Bay and Tata Bay also remain cut off.

The NZTA was hoping to restore access for light vehicles delivering supplies only to Collingwood this afternoon. Food and medical supplies were taken in by four-wheel-drive and boat yesterday.

Wainui Bay residents are expected to remain isolated until Monday, and about 90 residents and Department of Conservation staff are cut off in Totaranui, with roads not likely to be fixed for weeks.

It was hoped that all-weather access to Tata Beach would be restored by the end of today.

Water and sewerage facilities are still unavailable in Pohara, but portaloos are in place. Residents in Wakefield, Dovedale and Pohara are required to boil water, and those in Nelson, Mapua, Pohara and Takaka are being asked to conserve and restrict their water use if possible.

An aerial inspection of the Maitai Pipeline, Nelson's main water supply, yesterday showed eight slips, but none of these posed a risk to the pipeline at this stage, Ms Rickers said. The pipeline would be watched "very carefully".

She said Civil Defence was unsure how much time it would take to clear these slips, but at this stage workers were more focused on slips that were affecting people's lives.

Building inspectors from both councils, and six additional inspectors who flew in from Auckland and Wellington yesterday, would be assessing more properties today.

Welfare centres are still open in Nelson, Richmond and Pohara, with two additional welfare staff arriving from Wellington today.

Civil Defence said this morning that few people were using the centres, and most were staying with friends or family in the area.

MetService forecaster Chris Noble said there was not a significant amount of rain expected in the region today, but there would be some showers in the northwestern ranges near Kahurangi National Park, and in the Richmond ranges, which could spread. There could be falls of up to 20 millimetres in some places.

The severe weather warnings had all been lifted.

The weather in Nelson would gradually improve but there could still be showers in the northwestern ranges near Kahurangi tomorrow and on Monday, Mr Noble said.

About 205 phone lines are out in Tahunanui, and are still not expected to be fixed until December 22.

- © Fairfax NZ News