Update: 1:55 pm
Waimana Gorge has just been closed due to the potential for flooding. The road is only 200-300 millimetres away from being flooded, so as a precautionary measure it has been closed.
Update: 1:30 pm
Judging by the sunny skies outside and MetService's forecast, it looks like the worst of this latest weather event is behind us.
An update on the current situation following the heavy rain earlier today:
- Waiohau Hill has a tree and a slip covering one lane. Contractors are clearing this.
- Troutbeck, Mangamate and Waitaruna roads are closed. Crews are starting to clean up the large amounts of tree and mud debris blocking these roads.
- Ruatahuna Road is closed by a large slip at the 5 km mark.
- Flooding on Peace Street has subsided.
- Trees that came down and were blocking Brown, Bridge and Awatapu Roads have been cleared.
- There is a tree blocking 3/4 of Rendall Road.
Meanwhile, the Waimana and Whakatāne Rivers have both reached their first warning levels, and there is some localised flooding in low-lying areas.
MetService predicted heavy rain for our area over the period from 18–19 February, and the rain and wind overnight have had the following impacts:
- Ruatāhuna Road is closed by a large slip just past Te Whātai
- Galatea Road is affected by slips and fallen trees in the Waiohau Hill area – caution required - these are being attended to now.
- Police are assisting a family trapped in a house by floodwaters in Troutbeck Road, Galatea - Fire Services have attended and rescued the family.
- Widespread surface flooding is also likely to be affecting roads between Galatea and Murupara
- Surface flooding has been reported in Whakatāne township – Council contractors are attending known flood-prone areas (cesspit clearing and running a street sweeper)
- A fallen tree on Awatapu Drive has been removed
- Troutbeck Road is closed due to flooding.
Take it slow on the roads today, and watch out for flooding, fallen trees, and other debris.
Please report any flooding or fallen trees by emailing us at info.whakatane.govt.nz - but in the event of an immediate emergency, call 111.
Up-to-the-minute updates will be available on our Facebook page.