Severe weather - flooding update #12 - 11:00am

The heavy rain and flooding has seen widespread damage to hundreds of properties around the Coromandel, particularly in Whangamata, Onemana, Pauanui and Tairua.

"Many of these properties are holiday homes so Council staff are fielding calls from absentee homeowners asking us whether their holiday home has been affected and whether we can check it out," says Garry Towler, our Civil Defence Controller.

The more significant damage is around debris, subsidence and slips through properties.

"Our first priority is to assess damage that urgently threatens public health and safety, particularly on public land like roads, reserves and beaches, as well as attending to people who are in need on the ground right now," says Mr Towler.

"When it comes to holiday homes, it's better for people to come and check out to their properties themselves over the coming weeks, but if this can't happen then please contact our customer service team next week on 07 868 0200 to discuss what we can do to help with an external assessment around damage," says Mr Towler.

"Please be aware our customer service team are pretty busy dealing with immediate issues around this weather event, so if it isn't an urgent request we're asking customers to get in touch with us early next week."

"In the first instance it is better for people to come and check out to their properties themselves over the coming weeks to see if there's any damage, but if this can't happen then please contact our customer service team on 07 868 0200.

Latest weather update

A low over the Tasman Sea extends a slow-moving trough over northern New Zealand. Periods of rain continue in the northeast of the North Island today, with heavy thundery falls in Northland.

Through into early Saturday, 180-240mm may accumulate in Northland, especially in the east. During Friday, rain is expected to become heavy through Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty, before easing during Saturday and 100-150mm of rain may accumulate on top of what has already fallen over the last few days.

Rainfall in these areas can produce flash flooding and cause rivers and streams to rise rapidly. It can also lead to hazardous driving conditions.

Periods of rain are expected to continue through today, before becoming heavy again Fridaymorning. In the 21 hours from midday Friday to 9am Saturday, a further 120 to 140mm may accumulate on top of what has already fallen over the last few days. Peak intensities 25mm per hour or possibly more in thunderstorms.

Note further heavy rain is likely late Saturday and Sunday.
For updated information refer www.metservice.com

Summary Issues

• Communities isolated due to road closures are: Whiritoa.

• Civil Defence Centre set up at Whangamata Hall

• Thames Coast Road open but extreme caution required; surface flooding and debris.

Settlements:

Matamata
Possible sewer blockage on Dawson Street

Te Aroha
River levels being monitored & catch pits being cleared
Issues with high wind velocities lifting roofs

Thames
Old Maratoto Road and Wires Road fords are now both open.

Whiritoa
Access road access still closed
HDC visiting when access permits

Whangamata
SH25 bypass road multiple slips – likely to remain closed today
6 damaged houses by slips

Onemana
2 damaged houses by slips

Hikuai/Pauanui
Pauanui water supply on bore until treatment plant restored.
Hikuai School Road and Puketui Road fords are both closed due to flooding.

Whitianga
Reports of damaged flood damaged house in Rangihau Road – under investigation

Kaiaua
HDC undertaking door knock this morning

Telecommunications

Whangamata reports of Spark outage
Vodafone: Onemana & Whangamata south
Chorus: Problems with copper network around Whangamata, still experiencing problems and will take a couple of days.

Tides
THAMES Thurs 9 High 17:29 hrs 3.7 m
WHITIANGA Thurs 9 High 18:22 hrs 2.0m

http://www.metservice.com/marine-surf/tides/index

Road Closures

Tapu-Coroglen due to slips as @ 10:30 hrs
SH25 @ Whangamata due to flooding
SH25 @ Whiritoa
SH25@ Whenuakite - tree has come down and is blocking both lanes.

Road Hazards
SH25 Thames Coast Road - North of Whakatete Bay
SH25 Hikuai to Tairua

For updated information refer maps.aa.co.nz/traffic/roadwatch or www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/highway-info/road/7873/north-island.html

Thames Hospital
All services operating

Power Outages
Tapu – 56 properties est restoration18:00hrs
For updates and further details refer http://www.powerco.co.nz/Outages-and-Faults/

Water Supply
PAUANUI - Water Plant not going. Reservoir level is ok. Supply operating from bore.

Rainfall

• Rainfall total for the last 24 hours (mm)

• Castle Rock 39.5

• Golden Cross 43.5

• Pinnacles 126.5

(for updates refer http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/Services/Regional-services/River-levels-and-rainfall/Rainfall---latest-reading/)

Tides

THAMES – next high tide Thursday 9 March at 17:29 3.7m
WHITIANGA – next high tide Thursday 9 March at 17:21 2.0m

© Scoop Media