Dunedin July Severe Weather update #13
7.45pm, Saturday 22 July 2017

Dunedin Civil Defence Controller Sue Bidrose says Dunedin City Council staff, contractors, emergency services and Civil Defence personnel continue to respond as quickly as they can to weather-related issues based on priority.

Residents who were evacuated overnight and earlier today need to stay out of their homes tonight as well. This affects residents in areas such as the Henley township, the lower part of Outram, and other parts of the Taieri Plain and Mosgiel.

The situation will be re-assessed on Sunday morning.

Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management is recommending that residents in Bush Road/Mill Creek area remain evacuated tonight as the river level remains high and the ability to monitor the stability of the area during darkness is limited. Residents who require a place to stay are able to go to the Mosgiel Information Centre, Fire Station Theatre, 3 Cargill Street to arrange accommodation. A further update on the situation will be provided early tomorrow.

Dr Bidrose says rain has eased, but the main areas of concern are still the Taieri River, which remains high, slips and other widespread issues throughout the roading network.

Ravenswood Street in St Clair is closed and 12 houses have been evacuated due to a slip. People must stay out of the area until further notice.

There are approximately 25 other slips on roads across the city, many of them on the Otago Peninsula.

A slip on Harington Point Road just past the turnoff to Harwood is still moving and contractors will reassess this in the morning. This means that residents on the Otago Peninsula north of Harwood are effectively cut off, with no alternative access route available. Otakou marae has carried out door knocking in the area and have supported welfare needs.

Progress is being made on clearing slips on Portobello Road. Portobello Road, from Doon Street through to Tidewater Drive, Harwood, is closed, with residents only access. Motorists must take extreme care, there is debris and surface flooding and in some places the road is down to one lane only.

Dr Bidrose says motorists should continue to avoid all non-essential travel, particularly in the Taieri and Peninsula areas. Do not go rubbernecking.

The NZ Transport Agency advises sub-zero temperatures overnight tonight in areas of Otago are likely to cause hazardous driving conditions on many routes from around 4am onwards. Transport Agency and DCC roading contractors will be out applying grit so motorists are urged to take care in the morning on icy and gritted roads.

A number of roads are closed due to flooding – a full list of road closures and conditions is available online atwww.dunedin.govt.nz/road-conditions. State highway closures are on the NZ Transport Agency website athttp://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/.

Information Centres
The Civil Defence information centre in Mosgiel at the Fire Station Theatre, 3 Cargill Street remains open.
The information centre set up in South Dunedin at The Mercy Room, Catholic Social Services, 42 Macandrew Road, closed at 5pm. We will reconsider re-opening this centre tomorrow morning.

The Emergency Operations Centre remains activated and a state of emergency in place. Anyone who has welfare concerns, or who wants to report flood-related issues with DCC services should call us on 03 477 4000.

Parks and recreation
There have been two slips onto the Frasers Gully walking track. Please stay away from this area until further notice.

Second Beach walking track in St Clair is also closed due to a slip.

Dog owners taking their dogs along the Silverstream Flood Bank track in Mosgiel are advised to take extreme care. The high rainfall in the Silverstream catchment may sweep possum carcasses poisoned with 1080 downstream. Keep dogs on a lead at all times; carcasses will be extremely toxic. OSPRI has been asked to patrol at first light and remove any carcasses.

Keep up to date
For the public to keep up to date with what is happening and for advice about what to do, please see the DCC website, DCC social media, listen to the radio and use other media.
Please refer family, friends and neighbours to these communication channels.

www.dunedin.govt.nz
www.facebook.com/DunedinCityCouncil
https://twitter.com/DnCityCouncil

Anyone with flood-related queries or issues should call 03 477 4000.

ENDS

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