Media release #3 Wanganui District weather event - 12.06pm noon, 20 June 2015

Published on 20 June 2015

Media release #3 Wanganui District weather event

12.06pm noon, 20 June 2015

Due to the heavy rain which has caused flooding in our district, we are advising people to keep away from floodwaters, which may be contaminated with sewerage.

Heavy rain has caused flooding and slips in areas of Putiki, Aramoho, Wanganui East and St Johns Hill.

A number of roads have been closed in our district and there have been reports of manholes popping. We are asking people to drive only if essential and take care on the roads.

The Matarawa Stream in Wanganui East is rising rapidly, which will cause flooding and sewerage contamination in properties in the Anzac Parade and Nile Street area. The Red Cross is talking to residents in this area.

There are power outages in some parts of the urban area, including outages to about half of our 24 pump stations. We don’t have any information available about when the power is likely to be back on, but in the mean time we have reduced the water pressure at the Kai Iwi bore and we are asking people to conserve water.

The rain is expected to slow down at around 10.00pm this evening.

The Whanganui River is expected to reach 11.3 metres at Pipiriki around 6.00pm or 7.00pm tonight, with peak water expected to reach the Whanganui urban area round 6.00am to 7.00am tomorrow, Sunday, June 21. This is expected to cause further flooding on the Whanganui River Road, but at this stage, it is not expected to breach the stopbanks.

We are monitoring the river levels and will provide more information when it is available.

If you have self-evacuated, or have been evacuated by the Red Cross and have not registered with our Welfare Centre at St Pauls Church Community Centre, please contact 348 8237.

Fourteen people from Putiki and Brunswick have been evacuated from their homes by the Red Cross and are staying with family and friends.

If there's a life threatening emergency, please call 111. If you are affected by floods or slips, call the Civil Defence Emergency Management team on 349 0001.

We will continue to update you with more information on our Facebook page and on our website.

The following roads are closed in our district:

Anzac Parade (to Purua Street)

Peat Street

Kakatea Valley Road

SH 4 Raetihi to Wanganui

SH 3 Bulls to Wanganui

Whanganui River Road

Parihauhau Road

Turoa Road

Rangitatau Road East

Waikupu Road

Tokomaru West Road

Kauarapaoa Road

Brunswick Road

Matarawa Street

Raine Street

Ngatarua Road

Longacre Road

Okoia Road

Kaikokopu Road

Mangamahu Road

Hackett Street

Lucknow Street

Quick Avenue

Georgetti Road

Shakespeare Road

Roberts Avenue

Ikitara Road (Anzac Parade to Turoa Road)