Council staff survey flood-affected properties, Gladstone Road bridge to close at 7pm

Gisborne District Council environmental health and operations staff this morning began visiting up to 50 properties in low-lying riverside areas adversely affected by yesterday’s flooding.

Their aim is to assess the damage incurred and to advise residents about cleaning and disinfecting properties contaminated by sewage. Staff also want to see how high floodwater reached on various properties, known to be prone to flooding.

Of the properties visited, 11 experienced internal flooding. The rest were external flooding to lawns and gardens.

Gisborne Civil Defence Emergency Manager Louise Bennett said most people were getting stuck in to cleaning up their properties.

“A weather watch has been issued for the Gisborne district from Thursday through to Saturday. Rain is predicted to be between 50 to 70mm which, although below normal weather watch and warning figures, could cause problems on top of the rain already received this week. We are monitoring this.

“There is a moderate confidence of heavy rain from Gisborne to Wairarapa on Thursday then a low risk from Friday to Saturday.”

Meanwhile, the work to fully clear underneath the Gladstone Road bridge will begin at 7pm tonight, a half hour later than was earlier notified. The closure will remain until 1am Wednesday. Heavy traffic will be diverted through Lytton and Ormond roads.

The closure will enable the last of the debris still to be cleared. Heavy equipment will be working on the bridge and people will be working underneath.

ENDS

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