Media release #8 Wanganui District weather event 2.30am 21 June 2015

Published on 21 June 2015

Wanganui District Civil Defence and Emergency Management Controller Kevin Ross says the district is experiencing its biggest flood ever. The event is unusual because of a large amount of localised rain in the urban area and a lot of rain between Pipiriki and the city.

Bridges

Dublin Street Bridge is open to emergency services only. This is due to flood waters around the Jones Street roundabout. This means Wanganui East is likely to be isolated until about midday Sunday as access is not available via Anzac Parade from the city end. A command centre may be established on the Wanganui East side of the Whanganui River. The Fire Service has one truck stationed on the Wanganui East side.

The City Bridge is closed after being hit by logs. A structural assessment will be done on Sunday morning and a decision made on whether it can reopen.

Cobham Bridge is passable but only to Airport Road.

Evacuations

Anzac Parade evacuations have been extended up to Jellicoe Street.

Roads

Portal Street is fully closed by a slip across the road.

Taupo Quay is closed at Heads Road near Suzuki through to near Guyton Street.

An assessment of rural roads will be done by helicopter, weather permitting, on Sunday morning.

Rivers

The Whanganui River is likely to continue rising in the urban area.

The Matarawa has peaked. There is localised flooding in low-lying areas of Wanganui East around the Matarawa.

The Mangawhero River is being assessed. It is possible that a slip may have dammed the river.

Residents are asked to conserve water and to treat all flood waters as contaminated.