Two rivers still to peak

For immediate release: 3.30pm Saturday 29 January 2011 – Update number 5

Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff are continuing to monitor river levels across the region with two rivers still to peak later today.

Community Relations Manager Bronwyn Campbell said the Whakatāne River was still rising and is forecast to peak around 10pm today at about a 30-year event level which is similar to Monday’s peak for the river following last weekend’s storm.

“We’re also expecting that the Waimana River will peak at 6pm today at about a 50-year event level,” Ms Campbell said.

Boaties were also being asked to take extreme care when out on the region’s waterways and along the coast this weekend.

“Due to last night’s heavy rain, swollen rivers have brought logs and debris down into the regions coastal waters including Tauranga Harbour, Whakatane River mouth, Ohiwa Harbour,” Ms Campbell said.

“All boaties need to be aware of these navigational hazards and take extra precautions when venturing out onto the water.
The District Health Board has warned that people should also avoid swimming and recreational contact in all rivers, streams and harbours for 48 hours as farm runoff may have contaminated them with effluent. There have been a number of sewage overflows reported into Tauranga Harbour so people are advised to avoid contact with the water until further notice.
Flood/actual predictions with a wet catchment and all the rain fallen are as follows:

Rangitāiki River – Peak flow prediction of 620m3/s at 5am Sunday 30 January. Trustpower had agreed to increase Matahina Dam outflows at 12pm from 250m3/s to 400m3/s to reduce lake levels.

Tarawera River levelled off at relatively high levels at 8am and was peaking at 1m at 2.482m. We have had two teams monitoring potential seepage issues all morning.

Kaituna River – The Kaituna peaked at 4.656m @10:45 above the peak of earlier this week. The appropriate warnings were put out in a timely manner. This is in excess of the 10yr ARI event according to our rating curve maximum of 4.4m 230m3/s. The Mangorewa peaked at an estimated 500m3/s (>50year ARI)

Waioeka River peaked at Cableway at 8.8m (NIWA) which is around a 15 year event (~1100m3/s). The mouth of the Gorge gauge peaked at 12.15pm at 5.792m (similar to 24 January event).

Otara River peaked under the second warning level at Browns Bridge at 10.15am at 3.421m (similar to 24 January event).

Operational staff will continue working around the clock and the flood room will remain manned through the night.
The Whakatane River Bar is currently unworkable. Boaties should listen to their local radio station for updates on the situation.
For latest updates on the weather event across the region, please visit the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s website www.boprc.govt.nz or Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/boprc

For live monitoring and regional rainfall data go to www.boprc.govt.nz
and click on the Live Monitoring Link.
For further information on weather predictions please go to www.metservice.co.nz

For roading information please visit http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/highway-info/road/7873/north-island.html

Ends

Information forwarded for Eastern Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Operations Centre

Media Release No: 3Date: 29 January 2011Time:13:20hrs

Civil Defence Controller Diane Turner advises that EOC staff have been liaising closely with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council flood control team regarding river levels as these were continuing to rise. She stated that the Whakatane River was expected to peak at 10 pm tonight and would be fractionally higher than last Monday’s flood event which was a one in 30 year event. She stated that the Taneatua Highway was expected to close due to the river overtopping the road. She noted that the high tide would also affect the ability of water to exit from canals and rivers on the Plains and this would add to the overtopping of canals onto low lying areas and effect local rural roads especially around Otakiri. The Waioeka River was predicted to peak at higher levels than last weekend and staff were monitoring this closely with the high tide due at 1537 hours.

Waimana and Ruatoki Valley are currently cut off. Staff are monitoring road conditions. While rivers remain high these communities will remain isolated.

Ms Turner stated that although power has been restored in all areas of the district apart from Manawahe Road she was still asking people to conserve water to allow for the reservoirs to refill. She asked the residents in Edgecumbe to refrain from using water and to avoid flushing their toilets as there were infiltration problems with the wastewater system.

Ms Turner advised that there had been reports of houses been flooded in Whakatane, Edgecumbe, Taneatua, Ruatoki Valley and Otakiri. She stated that slips had affected properties in West End Road and Braemar Road. Staff were investigating these reports.

Ms Turner advised that Opotiki was experiencing some issues with sewerage being backed up due to minor surface water flooding and there had been minor surface water flooding in urban areas.

She stated that the District Health Board has warned that people should also avoid swimming and recreational contact in all rivers, streams and harbours for 48 hours as farm runoff may have contaminated them with effluent.

The welfare centre in Matata has been closed. The welfare centre in Whakatane, at the Salvation Army Hall in King Street remains open. Welfare agencies are available at the centre to support anyone having to evacuate.

For roading updates refer to the Council’s website and listen to Radio IXX.

If people need any assistance they are advised to call the Council on 306 0500 or for more information visit the website www.whakatane.govt.nz/civildefence and continue listening to the Radio.

ENDS

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