A lot of progress has been made on opening up the Thames-Coromandel district roading network and repairing damage to water services operations. However, there remains a lot to do in the coming days and weeks.

It has been another hugely busy day for emergency services, Council staff working on our emergency response and our contractors. They have been working to clear slips, assess damage to roads and property and make sure affected communities have essential supplies. We are still getting to grips with the extent of the damage, and it is considerable.

We remain in a response mode to the storm and it will take some time before everything resumes as normal. Please be patient as you’re out and about, check our TCDC website and Facebook page for updates on roads, water services and other Council operations. Check on your neighbours and follow the instructions from traffic management staff and road signs.

Road status as of 5pm Thursday 22 January:

• SH25a Kopu to Hikuai - Open.
• SH25 Hikuai to Tairua - Open with speed restrictions in place, and single lane at Hikuai bridge.
• SH25 Whiritoa to Waihi - Open.
• SH25 Whangamata to Whiritoa - Still closed due to large slip.

The below 5 Council roads remain closed:

• Stoney Bay Road
• Carey Road
• Fletcher Bay Road
• Matapaua Bay Road
• Motuhoa Road

The following 12 roads have limited access for emergency services only:

• Waikawau Beach Road -Waikawau Beach Road
• Tuateawa Road - Near Little Bay
• Wentworth Valley Road - at ford
• Kennedy Bay Road - Waikawau Beach Road/Driving Creek intersection
• Mangatu Road - Waikawau Beach Road/Driving Creek intersection
• Port Charles Road - Start of Port Charles Road
• Port Jackson Road
• The 309 Road - (Coromandel Town end)
• Pumpkin Hill Road
• Sailors Grave Road
• Opoutere Road - Start of Opoutere Road

The following 9 roads have been opened:

• Hot Water Beach Road
• Kauaeranga Valley Road
• Colville Road
• Blackjack Road
• Purangi Road
• Hikuai Settlement Road
• Waterways Parade
• Gallagaher Drive
• Otamakite Road

Water services

There are Level 5 Total Watering Ban water restrictions in Tairua and Matarangi. In Tairua, water bottles can be filled with clean water at Tairua Fishing Club at 12 The Marina. Contact Cie on 021 448 168 if you need further information.

Also, under the fishing club, the Paradise Gym has opened its doors for the day for anyone who wants access to filtered water for water bottles, power points for charging devices and hot showers.

Water contamination update

After heavy rainfall, unknown debris and wastewater may enter the ocean, so please avoid swimming during this time. The safest option is to wait at least three days before returning to the sea. For estuaries, we recommend waiting up to seven days, or until TCDC issues an allclear notice following the completion of waterquality testing.

In addition, there has been a wastewater discharge from the wastewater treatment plant into the Ngarahutunoa Stream at Whitianga. Because this water is contaminated, people should not swim at the beach or in surrounding areas until further notice.

Check out the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website, which provides uptodate water quality results from more than 1,000 sites across New Zealand.

Kerbside collections for Friday 23 January

• Pāuanui and Tairua
• Kūaotunu

Residents in these areas please put your bins out for collection by 7.30am tomorrow Friday 23 January. Please note these collections will be subject to road access continuing to be passable, and no changes overnight.

Collections cancelled for this week

• Matarangi
• Coromandel Rural North
• Opito
• Otama

Due to road closures and/or restricted access due to poor roading conditions, these areas will not have their services from Wednesday 21 January rescheduled. Their next scheduled service will be on Wednesday 28 January (subject to access).

Northern Coromandel DOC campgrounds

Department of Conservation campgrounds in northern Coromandel have been closed.

The department will be working with campers who booked to arrange refunds. It will also be inspecting camping sites once it is safe to do so.

Already, there are reports of damage to key infrastructure that need attention.

The department asks people to avoid any unnecessary travel throughout the peninsula while work to repair sites and roads is being carried out.

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