MEDIA RELEASE

River levels recede and works continue
For immediate release: 1500hrs, 16 August 2010

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Flood Duty Manager Roger Waugh said that now rain has ceased, river levels are receding quickly but staff and contractors continue to work across the affected areas.

A further 12 pumps arrived into the eastern Bay of Plenty last night and have been deployed in order of priority to areas where requests have been made and pumping is needed. The emergency pumps continue to operate in the Fortunes Road basin and water is now receding from the pasture land.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff and contractors yesterday repaired a serious breach of a stopbank near Whakatāne and have now finalised the emergency repair works. The breach occurred on the left bank of the Te Rahu Canal, downstream of Te Rahu Road, and flooded low lying farmland to the south and around the Fortune Road area.

“We are looking at all options to relieve ponding or flooding between the 10 year and 50 year stopbanks,” Mr Waugh said.

“We know that with calving going on, this is one of the worst possible times for an event like this so we’re making all efforts to assist farmers and affected people where possible. If farmers are experiencing issues and haven't spoken to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council then we still want to hear from them”

Lake Matahina reached its maximum operating level this morning with the lake level now slowly receding. Spilling will continue to slowly draw down the levels again over the next few days. Inflows to Matahina are presently at 280 m3/s, down from this morning’s rate of 330 m3/s.”

Mr Waugh said that Lake Rotorua had reached its full capacity last night and Lake Rotoiti’s level was being well managed through the Okere Gates.

“The Okere Gates are currently set at maximum outflow into the Kaituna River and at this stage they will be held there for the rest of the week to alleviate lake levels.”

“We have removed the stoplogs around the Whakatane Wharf along with the Waioho and Te Rahu Canals this morning.”

Brian Spake, Harbour Master Eastern Bay of Plenty, said due to the weekend’s rain the Whakatāne Boat Ramp will be closed until Wednesday and possibly longer following assessments of Harbour infrastructure this morning.

“While there was no actual damage to the infrastructure, the boat ramp will definitely be closed until Wednesday due to the silt and debris.

“A further assessment will be made later in the week as to whether the boat ramp will re-open,” Mr Spake said.

The Whakatāne River Bar remains unworkable.

“Because of large debris rafts and associated detritus has discharged into coastal waters, this material is being carried offshore with the current wind direction, and night navigation is particularly hazardous,” Mr Spake said.

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

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 .

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