Regional Council Staff Monitor Flooded Rivers

For immediate release: 15 August 07.00 update

Rain has eased across the region, but Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff are closely monitoring all rivers.

Regional Council Duty Flood Manager Bruce Crabbe said the Otara, Waioeka, and Waimana Rivers exceeded second warning levels, but have now peaked and are receding.

The Whakatāne River flow has exceeded 2200m3/s and has now levelled out. High tide is only a concern for Whakatāne and not all the rivers. Operations staff are monitoring the Whakatāne river, with high tide due between 10.30am and 11am.

There is concern that rivers may rise again.

MetService has advised a further 50-80mm rainfall is due east of Whakatāne to midday Sunday.

Rainfall totals in the previous 48 hours:

Waimana at Ranger Station 323mm
Waioeka at Cableway 244mm
Tutaetoko (Otara Catchment) 230mm
Whakatāne at Huiteiki 190mm

The Upper Rangitāiki Catchment has recorded between 74 and 122 mm and the Rangitāiki Plains have recorded up to 160mm.

Mr Crabbe said businesses on the Whakatāne wharf have been warned that river levels have reached the underside of the wharf, and are still rising.

Trust Power lowered Matahina lake levels by increasing spilling. Stop logs have been installed due to rising levels in the Whakatāne River, and also in the Te Rahu and Waioho Canals. High tide at around 11:00pm last night did not cause any further flooding.

The Regional Council’s operation crews are out monitoring pumps and stopbanks and responding to calls.

Mr Crabbe said surface floodwater is expected on low-lying rural land for some days until drainage systems can remove the excess water.

A number of roads around the region are closed with slips and flooding. Due to many large slips the Waioeka gorge is closed, and Opotiki is currently isolated due to slips in surrounding areas. The road is also closed between Tāneatua and Kutarere by flooding.

More information on road closures is available on the NZ Transport Agency’s website at http://nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/highway-info/road/7873/north-island.html

For updated information, visit Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s website at www.envbop.govt.nz
and click on the live monitoring link to see updates of river and rainfall levels around the region.

The next update will occur mid morning.

ENDS

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