Media release, 9:30am 20 April 2017
Update #33
Boil water notice lifted
Multiple areas of the District were under a boil water notice due to the risk of contamination. This notice has now been
lifted for all those on a Council supply.
To clarify – A majority of people are on Council supply (especially in towns and built up areas). If you have a meter at
your gate it is Council supply. If you haven't got a meter and you have a tank or well on your property then you may
have your own water supply. We suggest you continue to boil water until you have had it tested.
Odour complaints
In two locations (Tāneatua and Edgecumbe), sewage ponds were overtopped by external flood waters and contaminated
adjacent private paddocks. We have arranged for a contractor to treat the sites with aerial application of lime to
disinfect the surface and reduce odours. Grass seed will then be applied to reinstate pasture in those areas.
NZ Post
Most mail delivery has re-started but mail is being held for affected properties. People can collect from the NZ Post
depot on Commerce Street from 7am to 10:30am with appropriate identification.
Residents can fill out a free 2 month redirection at the Whakatāne Post Shop, the Kawerau Post Shop or on line here.
Roads
Open with caution
• Ruatāhuna Road – Section between Te Whāiti and Pāpueru
• Edgecumbe – Urban Streets
• Edgecumbe Soldiers Road
Closed
• Kopuriki Road - Rabbit Bridge
• Te Whāiti Road – Through Te Urewera Hills
• Troutbeck Road – Horomanga Bridge
• Waikaremoana Road - Wairoa side
• Matahī Valley Road – From the Lions Hut, 14km along road
• Galatea Road – MacDonald Road to Te Mahoe Village
• State Highway 2 - Waimana
Road access is available to Ruatāhuna, via the detour through Timberlands forest roads between Murupara and Minginui.
Power (Horizon)
Horizon Networks now report there are no more areas without electrical power, and it is focusing on individual customer
faults. A number of properties are without power in Edgecumbe due to a major cable fault and unlikely to restore power
before Friday.
Central Government funding
Central government have made $700,000 available to help businesses affected by the flooding in Edgecumbe and the Bay of
Plenty. We are working through what that looks like and how it will be made available and we’ll let everyone know more
when we do. You can read the full media release on the Beehive website https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/extra-700000-support-bay-plenty or contact Ged Casey from the Eastern Bay Chamber of Commerce on 027 5627500.
Volunteers
Ngāti Awa Volunteer Army is now into their sixth day (as of Thursday) of clean-up and have provided an incredible 4,560
volunteer hours. More than 1140 people have registered to volunteer, including visitors from overseas (countries such as
Germany, United States and Czech Republic.) Close to 200 properties have been cleaned. For more information visitwww.boprc.govt.nz/volunteerhub
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