Flood recovery underway

Dunedin severe weather update #6 – 3pm, Friday, 2 February 2018

Dunedin’s Emergency Operations Centre will close this afternoon as the city moves into recovery mode.

DCC Recovery Manager Simon Pickford says the focus is now on checking properties affected by floodwaters and cleaning up roads.

DCC building inspection and environmental health teams have visited 11 properties where assistance with flooding issues had been requested. Very few had problems with floodwaters entering living spaces. Another couple of visits will be done this afternoon.

Radius Fulton resthome in Caversham will require significant repairs. Home residents have been relocated.

Anyone who had floodwaters enter their living areas is encouraged to call the DCC on 03 477 4000 or register at www.dunedin.govt.nz/adverse-weather so assistance can be provided as necessary.

Mayoral Relief Fund
The Mayoral Relief Fund has been re-launched today to help any residents badly affected by yesterday’s flooding.

The fund is targeted at people who cannot receive assistance through other avenues, such as insurance. Specific criteria apply.

More information is available on the DCC website at www.dunedin.govt.nz/adverse-weather.

Roads
Most roads around the city have now re-opened, although some closures are still in place including a number of fords in the rural network.

Ruskin Terrace and Edwin Street are currently closed due to sewage contamination. Contractors are cleaning the streets to re-open them as soon as possible.

Closures are also in place around Hoopers Inlet and Papanui Inlet due to surface flooding.

The seawall on Aramoana Road has been damaged by the high tides. Staff are out assessing the damage and it is likely that the road will be open to residents only for a few days and may continue to experience surface flooding, particularly around high tides.
As well as Aramoana, other coast or harbour edge roads including Marne Street, Portsmouth Drive and Portobello Road may continue to experience surface flooding, particularly around high tides.
There have been no major problems with slips, but contractors have cleared some small slips as they work around the roads. Assessments of existing slip sites from the July floods will be done by geotechnical engineers from Friday morning.

Anyone who needs to drive through streets with surface flooding should slow down to reduce the amount of floodwater washed into property or businesses. All floodwaters should be treated as contaminated.

A full list of road closures and conditions is available at www.dunedin.govt.nz/road-conditions.

Wastewater discharges
As a result of the heavy rain, there were some minor wastewater overflows to waterways and the harbour. These are emergency overflows to prevent wastewater backing up and running on to private property or roads.

A large wastewater pipe in Malvern Street which crosses Water of the Leith was damaged by the flood. Due to a blockage of the pipe, it is unlikely that any wastewater was discharged into the river. DCC contractors are working on the pipe as a priority.

The emergency outfall at Lawyers Head was opened last night, and there was an overflow to the Silverstream in Mosgiel. Both have now stopped. The wastewater pump station near St Leonards has been repaired.

It is recommended people stay out of the water and do not collect shellfish from the Otago Harbour and coastal beaches (Sandfly Bay to Westwood) until at least Monday.

Sandbags
There was high demand for sandbags yesterday. Sandbags are being collected today and on Monday if needed – people should place sandbags on the roadside for collection.

Rubbish collection
Most collections went ahead as normal yesterday, but rubbish and recycling could not be collected from some streets in Mosgiel due to flooding issues. Collections will be done on the following streets on Saturday. Bags and bins should be out by 7am. DCC rubbish bags – Murray Street, between Nairn and Lorne Streets, Stirling Crescent, Walnut Place. Yellow-lidded recycling bins – Lanark Street, Glasgow Street, Hartstonge Avenue.

Sportsgrounds
People are arriving in town for the Masters Games which begins tomorrow. All grounds have been assessed and most are unaffected. Cricket on grass wickets at Tonga Park and the Oval will be played on alternative pitches. Any changes will be advised by organisers.

Freedom camping
Freedom camping sites have been assessed. Warrington Domain is re-opening this afternoon.

Swimming pools
The St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool will be closed until Monday. We will be busy cleaning up over the weekend and hope to re-open on Monday.

For the public to keep up to date with what is happening and for advice, please see the DCC website, DCC social media, listen to the radio and use other media. You can call us on 03 477 4000.

Please refer family, friends and neighbours to these communication channels.
www.dunedin.govt.nz/adverse-weather
www.facebook.com/DunedinCityCouncil
https://twitter.com/DnCityCouncil

ENDS

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