MEDIA RELEASE #16 WANGANUI DISTRICT WEATHER EVENT - 11:36AM, 23 JUNE 2015

Published on 23 June 2015

The Wanganui District is currently in recovery mode after experiencing the largest flood ever recorded in our district.

Our focus is to continue to identify and provide assistance to the many rural residents who are isolated. Information on the isolated rural districts is being collected while medication and food parcels continue to be distributed by helicopter. Residents will be evacuated where required

There are a large number of slips on rural roads and crews are working hard to clear these roads in order to get vehicles through, with good progress being made. Road closures will continue to be shown on the media releases from Wanganui District Council (www.wanganui.govt.nz).

Our building inspectors are assessing buildings within the cordoned off areas to establish status of liveability. Until properties are inspected, they will be treated as contaminated and uninhabitable.

Business property owners in the Taupo Quay area will have the opportunity to review their properties between 12nooon - 1:00pm today. Strict deadlines will be adhered to.

The team continues to categorise buildings using coloured stickers:

Red: Entry prohibited (building is at risk from external hazard or has been seriously damaged)
Yellow: Restricted access (structural safety in question – access is only permitted with an authorised person)
White: No restrictions

Our welfare team will contact any residents of areas where cordons have been lifted and where yellow or white stickers apply.

For security reasons, the areas that have been inspected will not be made public.

Bridges

The Dublin Street Bridge is open.

The City Bridge remains closed until the approaches on both sides of the bridge can be checked and made safe. The bridge itself has been assessed as structurally sound. Tuesday noon (June 23) is the earliest a decision will be made regarding the bridge.

The Aramoho Rail Bridge is open to pedestrians.

There is a road block on Anzac Parade at Pehi Street.

Water

All houses in residential areas have water, with the exception of six houses who have been contacted and provided with water.

Evacuations and welfare

Excavated areas remain cordoned off and are being manned. Police are providing mobile units around the city. People who have evacuated their properties should not return home under any circumstances until the property has been assessed and decontaminated if necessary. The welfare centres at St Paul’s Hall and at Wanganui Girls College are open today.

Roads

Access is available west and south on State Highway 3. State Highway 4 (Parapara) is closed due to multiple slips, flooding and trees blocking the road – this is due to be closed for some time.

We advise extreme caution on all roads as they are affected by slips, debris etc.

Silt Build up

Bullocks in Taupo Quay are open to assist residents wishing to dispose of silt. Where possible, silt should be taken to this location.

Central city cordons

Part of the city centre remains cordoned off as a no-go zone. Cordons are in place at:

Taupo Quay/Heads Road near Suzuki New Zealand
Taupo Quay/St Hill Street
Taupo Quay/Victoria Avenue
Taupo Quay/Bates Street
Rutland Street/Market Place
Rutland Street/Drews Avenue
Market Place/Rutland Street
Wilson Street/ Ridgway Street

Both Trafalgar Square public car parks (accessed from Taupo Quay and Wilson Street) are no-go zones.

Road closures – urban

Taupo Quay – between Bates Street and St Hill Street

Drews Avenue and Market Place - between Rutland Street and Taupo Quay

Ikitara Road

Mt View Road

Road closures – rural

State Highway 4 Kaimatira to Raetihi

Kaukatea Valley Road

No 3 Line Wakefield Street to Kaimatira Road

Waikupa Road

Whanganui River Road

Kaurapaoa Road

Mangamahu Road

Matarawa Valley Road

Okoia Road

Parihauhau Road

Pipiriki Road

Polson Road

Tokomaru East Road

Tokomaru West Road

Koatanui Road

Rangitatau East Road

Watershed Road

Waipapa Road

Raupiu Road

Junction Road

Bruce Road

Creek Road

Mangawhero Road

Otamoa Road

Siceleys Road

Fields Track

Longacre Road

Ahu Valley Road

Rapanui Road

Kaukatea Valley Road

Papaiti Road closed (near 547)

The Paraparas are closed but crews they are working towards Fields Track.

Walkways closed

City Bridge to Georgetti Road

St John’s Hill cycleway

Power supply

We urge residents to contact Powerco website for updates: www.powerco.co.nz/Outages-and-Faults/

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Key agencies involved in the response are working to keep their online resources, such as websites and Facebook pages, as current as possible. We encourage people to ‘bookmark’ these sites for information on this and future events.

Wanganui District Council

www.wanganui.govt.nz

www.facebook.com/wanganuidistrictcouncil

www.facebook.com/yourmayorannettemain

Civil Defence Emergency Management Facebook Pages

www.facebook.com/civildefencemanawatuwanganui

www.facebook.com/nzgetthru

NZTA – Highway Information

www.nzta.govt.nz or 0800 HIGHWAYS

Horizons Regional Council – River Levels