Flooding situation updates

1. Roads affected by flooding
2. Latest updates

Tuatapere boil water notice lifted

The boil water notice for Tuatapere has been lifted. Water being produced from the treatment plant has passed all tests with flying colours and the water is good to drink from the tap.

Tuatapere water situation

Customers should bring water to a boil by heating the water until a continuous and rapid stream of air-bubbles is produced from the bottom of a pan or kettle. Kettles with automatic cut-off switches are suitable. Variable temperature kettles should be set to boil.

After heating, water must be allowed to cool before using it, and be stored in a clean, closed container for later use. Care should be taken to avoid scalding injuries.
Customers should boil all water used for:
* drinking
* brushing teeth
* washing and preparing food or beverages
* preparing baby formula
* making ice.
Unboiled water can be used for:
* showering and bathing (avoid swallowing water). As a precaution babies and toddlers should be sponge bathed to prevent them swallowing water
* washing dishes by hand or in a dishwasher, providing dishes are air-dried before being used after washing
* washing clothes.
Please share this advice with neighbours and friends in Tuatapere.

Wyndham

The Mataura is predicted to peak at Wyndham at 2.30am Sat 23 Sep, 3.3 metres above normal, and at Seaward Downs at 5.30am, 4.36m above normal.
Farmers should have their stock on higher ground and keep a weather eye out. Touch wood, everything's looking OK for Wyndham but we’ll be monitoring the situation closely in case sandbagging is required near the river.

Wallacetown

A small number of homes in Wallacetown have been evacuated this afternoon. The Wallacetown Community Centre is open to anyone who needs assistance.

Edendale

Wyndale transfer station is closed this afternoon. We will try our best to open this site tomorrow if the river levels drop and the road is open.

Water back on in Tuatapere 

Just an update on Tuatapere already – the water is back on in Tuatapere as the generator is set up. The boil water notice remains until further notice.

Tuatapere

Water tankers are on site and people need to bring their own containers to collect drinking water from them. A generator will be used to run the plant as soon as access is available to it – there is still about 1m of water there. All critical plant structure is above the water. The mains power to the plant will take some time to get back on.

Closed landfills

Bayswater, Fairfax and Bayswater sites are all under water, a large amount of debris is floating in the river, but can't tell if any damage has occurred, will check all sites later today as Aparima river is still rising
All other sites are safe and show no signs of threat.

Wastewater

Power has been restored to Ohai, Balfour, Riversdale and Winton, pump stations will be overflowing into nearby stormwater channels. Man hole covers were blown open in most towns and we are working to get these all closed..
These crews will access overflows and report back on extent and begin cleanup where possible

Water

All plants are coping well considering the situation all plants are still producing compliant drinking water currently.

Emergency Management update Friday 22 Sept

There is still flooding in many places around our region. If you're on the road today please drive to the conditions and be patient with others.

A number of schools and kindergartens throughout Southland are likely to be closed today due to the flooding event. Please check your school or kindergarten’s Facebook page and listen to your local radio stations for updates. The decision on whether to open will be made by individual schools/kindergartens.

Counsell Road

Closed due to flooding.
At Minerva Rd, Helena Rd, Mill Rd.
Due to a shortage of signs, this will be coned off, we will update signs as soon as possible.

Garston SH6 closed

Due to significant flooding, SH6 is now closed at Garston township and no detour is available.
We will update you as soon as when we hear more.

Boil water notice Tuatapere

A boil water notice has been issued for Tuatapere township, effective immediately. Despite the best efforts of residents to conserve water it is clear that the township's reservoir will run dry before the morning.

Three tankers with drinking water will be stationed throughout Tuatapere some time after 8am tomorrow, Friday 22 September. Other contingencies are being considered. The water-damaged water treatment plant will not be able to be repaired until floodwaters recede.

Boil water notice:

Customers should bring water to a boil by heating the water until a continuous and rapid stream of air-bubbles is produced from the bottom of a pan or kettle. Kettles with automatic cut-off switches are suitable. Variable temperature kettles should be set to boil.

After heating, water must be allowed to cool before using it, and be stored in a clean, closed container for later use. Care should be taken to avoid scalding injuries.

Customers should boil all water used for:

• drinking
• brushing teeth
• washing and preparing food or beverages
• preparing baby formula
• making ice.

Unboiled water can be used for:

• showering and bathing (avoid swallowing water). As a precaution babies and toddlers should be sponge bathed to prevent them swallowing water
• washing dishes by hand or in a dishwasher, providing dishes are air-dried before being used after washing
• washing clothes.

Update on Otautau

A welfare centre has been set up at the Otautau Sports Complex, 20 Hulme Street, and there are volunteers on site. If residents of the township are feeling anxious or unsafe they are welcome to drop by and have a chat.

Update from Emergency Management Southland

The area of immediate concern is the Otautau community where the river level is expected to rise to near bridge-height, peaking this evening. Main Street is closed and bulk filling is underway on both sides of the bridge to support the stop bank infrastructure.   

The rain is easing, but surface flooding continues to be a problem throughout Southland and could be contaminated with sewage so people should avoid contact. Earlier today at 13.18 hours Gore had declared a state of emergency due to significant surface water flooding with roads and yards being inundated. Wyndam and Riverton both closed libraries due to surface flooding. 

Community emergency hubs have been opened at the Croydon Lodge in Gore, in the Mataura Community Centre, and at the Otautau Sports Centre for people who need assistance.  

The water treatment plant at Tuatapere has been inundated with floodwater and stopped working. It cannot be repaired until the floodwater recedes. There is currently has eight hours’ supply of drinking water in the reservoir and residents are advised to conserve water by not taking showers, washing disches or flushing toilets. 

Environment Southland activated flood warning and high river watch alerts at 8am this morning. Rivers across all catchments are rising and are expected to peak overnight. For the latest information on the state of the rivers go to the Environment Southland website. 

People should refrain from travelling and stay home if it is safe to do so. 

For the latest information on the developing situation go the Emergency Management Southland website and Facebook page. 

Update on Otautau

Otautau's Main Street is closed while the bridge area is being bulkfilled. It will remain closed till after the flood peak has moved through the catchment. 

Official message from Emergency Management Southland

Met Service has extended the heavy rain warning until 8pm this evening.

Around the wider Southland region, the immediate concern was Otautau community where the river level is expected to rise to near bridge height.

Main Street is closed, and bulk filling on both sides of the bridge is underway to support the stop bank infrastructure. While the rain is easing, surface flooding across roads throughout Southland may be contaminated.

Emergency Management Southland group controller Simon Mapp continued to encourage everyone to avoid contact with the flood water as wastewater and stormwater systems across Southland towns struggled to cope with the volume of water. “We would encourage people to stay home and off the roads as surface flooding is impacting both town and rural roads. Not all roads affected by flooding will be signposted, so extreme caution is needed.”

Community emergency hubs have been opened at the Croydon Lodge in Gore and the Mataura Community Centre for people who need assistance.

River peaks are expected to occur overnight and into tomorrow morning. It will take time for the surface water to recede. Environment Southland continues to monitor river levels. There are a number of rivers that have reached Flood Warning and High River Watch status.

You can view the list, here: https://www.es.govt.nz/environment/flood-warning

Tuatapere water conservation notice

Floodwater has gone through the Tuatapere water treatment plant and this has caused the plant to shut down.
This will mean the town will be out of water early tomorrow morning. We ask everyone on the Tuatapere water supply to conserve as much water as possible, so please don’t flush the toilet, or take a shower, or do your washing.

The treatment plant cannot be repaired until the water recedes. We are sending three water tankers to Tuatapere to provide drinking water until the plant can be repaired.

We will update this as soon as we have any new information. 

Contaminated stormwater 

We are receiving reports that flooded stormwater drains in some of our townships are becoming contaminated with sewage from the wastewater drains. This is ponding on the sides of roads and streets in some townships, notably Winton, Lumsden and Nightcaps. However, it is likely the problem could be more widespread, given the inundation of stormwater drains throughout Southland from the heavy rainfall.

We strongly advise people to stay away from ponding and surface flooding in townships throughout the district, and especially keep your children and animals away from areas of surface flooding in built-up areas.

If you see water blowing out of manholes (as pictured) please phone us on 0800 732 732.

Environment Southland and other stakeholders have been advised. 

The Otautau Stream and the Aparima River are rising quickly.

We are monitoring them closely. Please be prepared and keep an eye on social media and remember there are no sirens to warn you in an emergency. Please follow the link below for the flood warning updates. https://www.es.govt.nz/environment/flood-warning.

Roads and bridges

We are going to close Wreys Bush Mossburn Road due to multiple spots of flooding across the road. The teams are trying to get through to see the extent of flooding but at this stage the full road from Mossburn to Wreys Bush will be closed. Updates will be made as soon as we have more information.

There is significant damage at the plant but it is up and running, hooked up to a generator. The water is safe so far but please continue to boil your water until further notification.