Residents Urged to Avoid Travel if Possible

Dunedin (Wednesday, 3 June 2015) – Residents are advised to avoid any unnecessary travel as widespread flooding creates problems on many Dunedin roads.

South Dunedin, Kaikorai Valley and parts of Mosgiel, the Brighton Coast and the Taieri Plain have been hardest hit by heavy rain which started early today.

This severe flooding has forced the evacuation of Fulton Home at Hillside Road, closed roads and caused slips in areas such as the Otago Peninsula.

Key routes into the city, such as state highways, may be closed temporarily until peak flows in creeks and streams drop.

DCC Manager Civil Defence Neil Brown says the Dunedin Emergency Operations Centre has been activated to monitor and co-ordinate, but a civil defence emergency had not been called at this stage.

Key messages for the public are:
• Where possible, avoid driving or walking through floodwaters
• If you do have to drive, please drive carefully and be prepared for widespread surface flooding
• There have been some sewage overflows. To keep safe please avoid coming into contact with surface water as it may be contaminated with sewage. If you do come into contact with floodwaters, make sure you wash and dry your hands thoroughly
• There are going to be a lot of motorists on the road trying to get home, so we ask drivers to be patient and allow plenty of time for travel
• Check on your neighbours, especially if they are elderly or have young children
• All DCC water supplies are safe to drink. However, users of privately owned water bores should check their security for surface water intrusion and if concerned shut down the bore head and use stored water.

Aurora Energy advises that due to surface flooding and in the interests of public safety, we will soon disconnect electricity supply to the Woodland Avenue, Kinmont Crescent, Boundary Road and Heathfield Drive in East Taieri. Power to the 150 electricity consumers affected will remain out until water subsides and power can be safely restored. Surface flooding is submerging ground-mounted electrical equipment.

Always treat all electricity lines and equipment as live at all times and keep well clear.

DCC Roading Maintenance Engineer Peter Standring says, “The sheer amount of rain means our stormwater system is at capacity and the roading network is under pressure. We are monitoring what is happening and assisting wherever we can.”

DCC staff and contractors, and emergency services, are working hard to deal with a wide range of issues around the wider Dunedin area.

For DCC related concerns, such as roading, please call 03 477 4000. In the case of emergencies please call 111.

For the most up-to-date road conditions visit www.dunedin.govt.nz/road-conditions. This includes any state highway closures that affect traffic around the wider DCC area.

You can also visit
Dunedin City Council Facebook Page
Dunedin City Council Twitter Page
MetService for Dunedin
NZ Get Thru

ENDS

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