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Heavy Rain Update 4
2:00pm, 14 December 2011
The forecast heavy rain is continuing, however, while systems are currently under pressure apart from the road closures listed below and surface flooding making driving treacherous the Region is coping.

Stay away from rivers
It is requested that people refrain from going to look at the rivers and affected areas. Police have advised that entering the rivers is extremely dangerous at this stage.

Road closures
A number of roads have been closed throughout the Region:
• Waimea West Road
• Paton Road
• Aniseed Valley Rd
• Maitai River Road,
• Manuka Street Ford
• Awaroa Road
• Totaranui Road
• Redwood Valley Road from Inland Moutere to The Coastal Highway closed
• SH 60 The Coastal Highway closed between Pea Viner Corner and Maiseys road - traffic diverted via Inland Moutere Highway
Other roading information
• The Collingwood to Puponga and the Collingwood to Bainham Roads are being monitored closely.

• The Brightwater Bridge is open and it is not envisaged that the bridge will close at this stage.

• Waimea West is only open to heavy vehicles
• Aniseed Valley is open at this stage – contractor on site clearing slips and advising motorist to travel with caution
• Drain in Washbourn Gardens overflowing onto upper Oxford St. Contractor on site with Police, and people are advised to avoid the area.

• The Maitai Walkway is also closed to pedestrians and cyclists as river levels rise.

Motorists advised to take extreme care
With surface flooding throughout the region drivers are requested to drive with extreme care and patience.

There are a number of traffic controls in place throughout Nelson and Richmond and drivers are asked to abide with all directions.

Surface flooding
Other surface flooding is occurring throughout the Nelson Tasman region with contractors are onsite and monitoring roads throughout the region.

There are currently no issues in Murchison.

Heavy rain set to continue
The heavy rain throughout the Nelson Tasman region is expected to continue with the MetService increasing their initial prediction of rainfall.

Over the next 27 hours, from 9.00am Wednesday morning, 300 to 400mm of rain is expected to fall in the ranges west of about Motueka and 150 to 250mm in the remainder of Nelson with peak intensities of 20 to 35mm/hr, easing Thursday morning.

Rivers throughout the region are being monitored are expected to continue rising throughout the day and people are asked to take extreme care when driving.

Contact Numbers
The public are reminded that in the event of an emergency they should call 111.

If they require non-emergency assistance from either Council they should call the relevant call centres.

• Nelson City Council Customer Centre 03 546 0200
• Tasman District Council Call Centre 03 543 8400
Further Information
The Civil Defence Emergency Operations Centre has been activated at Tasman District Council in Richmond
Further Information
• The following website pages give the latest reading of river flow and rainfall for this area:
o River Flow Report
o Rainfall Report
• For the latest weather and forecast charts, please go to http://metservice.com.

ENDS

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