Heavy rainfall since early this morning is causing significant surface flooding throughout the District. At the time of writing 72mm had fallen. In Gore and Mataura the stormwater/wastewater network has been overwhelmed, causing surface flooding and water to threaten homes.
No-one has had to be evacuated at this stage. Gore District Mayor Ben Bell urged residents to stay indoors and avoid travel. Council staff were working overtime to protect property either with sand bags or pumping water.
“However, this is a time consuming process so we ask people to be patient and kind.” He advised people to monitor their radios and the Council’s Facebook page, website and Antenno for updates. The Council has been told consistent rain is expected to continue to at least 5:00pm, Mr Bell said. Emergency Management Southland group controller Simon Mapp said floodwater can make travel particularly hazardous.
“We would encourage people to stay home and off the roads as surface flooding is impacting both town and rural roads. “Please also don’t walk through floodwaters as there could be debris and uneven surfaces that can’t be seen, and the water may be contaminated.”
- The following is an update on the state of emergency in the Gore District at 4:45pm:
- Community emergency hubs have been set up at the Croydon Lodge, Gore, and the Mataura Community Centre. Anyone who feels unsafe is welcome to either of these locations.
- Our stormwater network flood gates have been closed due to the rising Mataura River. This is stop the river backing up into our network. It also means stormwater can’t drain into the river, and will continue to cause surface flooding.
- Numerous roads throughout the District are either closed or significantly affected by surface flooding.
- Drivers are being asked to stay away from surface flooding. The Council is receiving a lot of reports of inconsiderate drivers causing floodwaters to enter people’s property.
- Pedestrians are being warned to stay away from surface flooding from swollen
networks. The water could be contaminated and the Council has had reports of dislodged manhole covers. - The Gore library, Mataura service centre, Gore Multisports Complex and all
parks/reserves are closed. - There’s been about 85mm of rain in the Gore District since early morning. It’s
expected to continue into the evening. - There have been two concrete trucks filling sandbags and we have used 50 tonnes of sand.
- The Council is still being inundated with calls for sandbags and is doing its our best. If there’s an emergency ring 111.
Lastly, the Council wants to thank everyone who turned out to help fill sandbags.
There were 40 people who turned out to help.
Southland: surface flooding
People should restrict their trips around Southland given the amount of surface water and flooding. Highways South is managing flooding at a number of places on the state highway network:
- SH1 Bluff highway at Avon Road
- SH1 Bluff highway at Ocean Beach,
- SH1 Brydone
- SH1 Main St Gore at Broughton st intersection
- SH1/SH96 intersection south of Mataura
- SH6 Lumsden-Dipton highway north of Bell Road
- SH6 Kingston-Garston highway south of Kingston
- SH93 Kana St down to one lane due to flooding
- SH94 Croydon
- SH94 between Lumsden and Balfour
- SH94 Te Anau-Mossburn highway at Centre Hill
- SH95 Te Anau-Manapouri highway 4km from Te Anau
- SH96 Te Tipua Stream Bridge (SH96 now closed at this point)
- SH96 Dunsdale
- SH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway near Browns (see photo below)
Gore District, Southland: A state of emergency was declared this afternoon in Gore where flooding has overwhelmed the stormwater systems. Updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoreDC/