Weather warning - 6:45pm

Rain has cleared from the Coromandel area, but the effects may continue into the evening due to the incoming king tide.

Motorists are being advised to check the NZTA website to ensure routes are clear before travelling around the Coromandel and Hauraki areas.

The following roads on the State Highway network remain closed due to flooding and slips this afternoon:
• SH25 closed at Manaia due to flooding
• SH25 Thames Coast Rd closed at Tapu due to a slilp
• SH25 Whitianga to Kaimarama closed due to flooding
• SH25A Kopu- Hikuai closed due to a slip

Communities north of Tapu and north of Whitianga are currently isolated with no alternative routes available.
Waikato Regional Council has activated the Kauaeranga spillway on State Highway 25 south of Thames, to release excessive amounts of water in the Kauaeranga Valley. Although there is water across the road, SH25 south of Thames is open and NZTA is on site.

More roads could be closed later tonight as a result of rising river levels and the king tide at 8:45pm. This could affect SH2 through the Karangahake Gorge and SH25A at Hikuai.
There are also a number of closures in Kaiaua on the western shore of the Firth of Thames. These include:
• Miranda Road, Kaiaua, is closed near Findlay Road. Traffic is being diverted at the intersection of East Coast Road, Miranda Road and Front Miranda Road.
• East Coast Road, Kaiaua - Auckland Transport has advised a major slip is blocking East Coast Road north of Whakatiwai.
• Kaiaua Road, Kaiaua – there are multiple areas of surface flooding along this road that are quite deep and swift in places.
Keep an eye on the NZTA website for State Highway updates.This link has the details.
Our Council's local controller Garry Towler says the storm has cleared from the Coromandel area.

"We are just waiting for the catchments to release and for the high tide to turn at 9pm, then we will see the water recede and can expect our roading contractors to get stuck in to clearing the slips," Garry says.

The earlier power outages around Coromandel Town have been resolved and there are no reported power outages.

Water restrictions: Omahu residents may be affected by low water pressure or no water this evening as the water in the stream we take from is affected by today's storm.

Residents in Matatoki are still being asked to conserve water as rising stream levels have blocked drinking water at the Matatoki intake.

A water tanker is stationed at Matatoki School to provide water to anyone who needs water. Residents are asked to take a container and to boil water before consumption.

Updates on when we will be able to resume taking drinking water from the stream will be made available through our Facebook page.

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