MEDIA RELEASE #3 – Rain Event June 2015
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Three key areas for flooding

Horizons Regional Council is continuing to watch the Manawatu and Whanganui Rivers, with a flood barrier crew on standby in Whanganui and gate opening team ready to open the Moutoa floodgates.

Horizons incident commander Craig Grant says there are three key areas of concern. These are Wanganui, Hunterville and Feilding South.

“The issue for Wanganui is rising river levels. The Whanganui River is forecast to peak at 14.7 metres at the Pipiriki monitoring site at around 4.30 today.

This is likely to have an impact for Wanganui around midnight tonight.

“Steps have been put in place to reduce the flood risk but it is expected that flooding will still occur in some parts of Wanganui.

“Hunterville is experiencing widespread flooding and the detention dams are operating at full capacity. Feilding South is also experiencing widespread flooding. The Oroua River has peaked and that river level is declining.”

The weather system is expected to continue until early evening.

There have been some evacuations across Feilding, Hunterville, Wanganui and Horowhenua. These evacuations are being overseen by district councils.

For information regarding road closures please see the NZTA website http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/highway-info/road/7873/north-island.html or AA Road Watch http://maps.aa.co.nz/traffic/roadwatch
Up-to-date information on river heights and rainfall is also available via Horizons 24 hour toll-free Waterline 0508 4 FLOOD or via website www.horizons.govt.nz

ENDS

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