Council weather update: 10.45am

Christchurch City Council staff and contractors are responding to issues caused by heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours.

A number of communities are isolated, including Sumner and parts of Banks Peninsula. Teams are in the area assessing the situation and will keep residents informed. A full list of road closures is included below.

Teams are working across the city assessing the situation and contacting community groups in specific areas for information. Residents in social housing facilities are being contacted and offered support as required.

Council warns that floodwaters are likely to be contaminated and people should avoid contact. Anyone who comes into contact with contaminated water should wash their hands and remove and wash any clothing that gets wet.

The Council is expecting 50 to 100 houses across the city to be affected by flood-waters, with the majority of them located in the Mairehau/Richmond/St Albans area. Council staff are assisting residents with self-evacuations.

The Council is urging drivers to be extra vigilant and mindful while driving today. Speeding causes large waves which worsen the effects of surface flooding on properties.

The Council is advising residents, if you don’t need to leave home today, don’t.

Water supply
Water is being trucked into Little River and we ask residents to conserve water in Banks Peninsula.

Waste water
We expect to have isolated issues with wastewater systems. This may cause issues with toilet flushing and we ask that unnecessary flushing is avoided.

Welfare Centre
The Council’s Welfare Centre at Mairehau High School, 440 Hills Road, has been open all night and as at 9am, nine residents have made use of the service. The Welfare Centre at Mairehau High School will remain open through the day as required. A review will be undertaken to assess further needs of the community later this afternoon.

In Little River, a number of people have evacuated to the hall, where there has been no electricity since yesterday afternoon. A generator is being sent and welfare provisions delivered.

Property damage
For people with property damaged by flooding, please contact your insurer to discuss the options available to them.

Kerbside collections
Normal Wednesday waste collection is still happening but is unlikely in many low-lying areas. Bins will have tipped over and spilled their contents. Contractors will be in the area over the next few days to clean up.

Geotechnical teams monitoring hillside areas
Geotechnical engineers are out across the Port Hills checking and monitoring known mass movement areas following heavy rain.

Christchurch City Council has asked engineers to check these areas and immediately advise residents of any concerns about ground movement or slope instability. Up to 20 geotechnical consultants have been working since early this morning. Emergency procedures will be followed if any issues of concern are found. They will continue monitoring known risk areas throughout the day.

At this stage, the rainfall has only caused small localised subsidence.

The Council is asking people in hillside areas to be vigilant, and keep an eye out for any telltale signs of mass movement, including:

- New cracking to land, buildings, driveways or paths
- Existing cracks that get longer, wider or deeper
- Leaning or bulging of retaining walls
- Rockfalls

If you notice any changes, or have any concerns, please call the Council’s call centre on
941 8999, or 0800 800 169.

If you believe there is a risk to life, call 111 and self-evacuate.

CERA
Teams from CERA are monitoring the situation in the Residential Red Zone and have offered to assist people who needed to evacuate.

Staff are also keeping watch for any issues in areas of concern in the Port Hills.

Road closures covered by temporary traffic management:
• Main Road, Sumner
• State Highway 75 Little River to Duvauchelles
• New Brighton Rd, BurwoodQueensbury
• Owles Tce, SeaviewUnion
• Locksley Ave, GayhurstGlenarm been sent back to McBratneys
• Banks Ave, CoopersNorth Parade
• Hills Rd, WarringtonWarden
• Fitzgerald Ave, north bound, KilmoreCambridge
• Avonside Dr, WainoniTorlesse
• Richardson Tce, FerryOpawa
• Clarendon Tce, RadleyOpawa
• Aynsley Tce, OpawaCentaurus
• Smith St
• Fifield Tce, all
• Riverlaw Tce, all
• Eastern Tce, all
• Waimea Tce, all
• Aldwins Rd, Ferry-Linwood
• Canterbury St, at Days Rd
• Slater St, Shirley-Warden
• Warrington St, Hills-Barbadoes
• Aylesford St, Hills-Westminster
• Flockton St, Warrington-Westminster
• Carrick St, all
• Speight St, all
• Thornton St, all
• Archer St, all
• Squire St, all
• Harrison St, all
• Edward Ave, Geraldine-Barbadoes
• Edgeware Rd, Hill-Barbadoes
• Dyers Pass Rd, SummitGovernors Bay
• Summit Rd, Hilltop-Pigeon Bay Rd
• Pigeon Bay Rd, all
• Ensors Rd, south bound, Ferry-Brougham
• Linwood/Woodham
• Maces Rd, at Ruru
• Durham St, Gloucester to Cashel, detour to Park Tce
• Chancellor St
• Severn St
• Thames St, at Innes
• Mountbatten St
• Palatine Tce
• Waterloo Rd / Kissell St intersection
• Barrington St, at the mall
• Albert Tce

A further update will be sent about 1pm.

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