Weather update #12 - 5 January 12.30pm

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The NZ Defence Force and the Red Cross and identified members from NZ Civil Defence have been deployed to make contact with communities in Tararu and Te Puru to assess their needs, property and gather information. These are the only 3 groups who you should give your information to and receive advice from. They will be in uniform. The Defence Force will make attempts to continue along the Thames Coast Rd dependent on conditions.

"Recovery will take some time and we are asking people to please be patient," says Garry Towler, our Civil Defence Controller.

View the latest video update from Mr Towler here.

NZ Transport Agency has advised us that the Thames Coast Road (SH25) is closed and they are currently assessing damage. For residents only the road is passable for urgent matters from Te Puru north, and convoys will run between Te Puru and Tararu. There is severe damage to the road and closed to the general public.

If you are trying to leave Coromandel the way out is through Whitianga to Tairua, traffic delays are expected.

All our local Council roads are open, with Colville Rd open to one and expected to be open to two lanes later today.

At 11.30am potable water will be available at Te Puru campground.

Our 24-hour Customer Services phone line is back online, however we are still experiencing some issues. If you have any issues with our main line 07 868 0200 please call us on 07 868 0206 until 3pm this afternoon.

In Whangamata some residents are experiencing discoloration of their water supply. One of the water sources is higher in an iron oxide which makes it a yellowish colour. The team have checked the filters but as they say no health issue.

The Pauanui water treatment plant was able to recommence production of water from late yesterday, but customers are asked to conserve water as demand is met and reservoirs refilled. The water being supplied in Pauanui throughout the weather event has remained safe and potable with no issues with quality.
The power still seems to be on and off across the District. Check here for further details or contact your electricity company

Hannfords Wharf is closed until it can be inspected by a marine engineer later today. Coromandel Wharf appears OK but will also be inspected. A number of private jetties leading off the main wharf there have been damaged and appear unsafe.

DOC has confirmed the Pinnacles Hut is open. The road is open with some metal washout but still driveable for two wheel vehicles.

The Thames to Kopu and Kopu to Kaiaua sections of the Hauraki Rail Trail are likely to be closed due to damage to the foreshore stopbanks along which it runs. That damage will be inspected next week.
If you must travel, check NZTA's website here first for the latest information about road closures. You can also use their journey-planning website [http://www.onthemove.govt.nz] to plan the best route for your journey, taking into account known issues and traffic on state highways.

We'll also include updates on known local Council road closures here.If you see a Council road that is impassable due to flooding or a debris, call us on 07 868 0200.

Check MetService for the latest weather forecasts.

Waikato Regional Council has set up an online hub for rainfall and flood related information to help people more easily keep up to date with severe weather events in the region.

It can be found at waikatoregion.govt.nz/flood-room

We will post regular updates on our Council's Facebook page as well as on our website and email newsletters.

We still have a Total Fire Ban in place until at least 8 February, which includes bonfires and fireworks. See www.tcdc.govt.nz/fire for more information.

The rain should help replenish reservoirs and water tanks, but we're still facing water restrictions due to high use and also filtering sediment and silt that will be coming through from this weather event. We will be reassessing the reservoir levels within the next 24 hours to see if restrictions need to be changed. See what restrictions apply on our website www.tcdc.govt.nz/water.

The Shapeshifter concert in Whangamata is going ahead this evening. Click here to view the events on around the Coromandel and refer to specific sites for details.

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