By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting
Ruapehu District Council has stepped down its emergency operations this afternoon as the district moves from storm response to recovery.
Widespread road closures and slips will take days to clear.
The council’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is now in a monitoring phase as the district moves into recovery following two days of heavy rain that cut roads and isolated northern communities.
After a regional Civil Defence round-up with headquarters in Palmerston North at 4pm, Ruapehu civil defence controller Clive Manley said the worst of the weather now looks to have passed over the northern Ruapehu area.
But he said the weather event had left behind a big clean-up on local roads and state highways with multiple slips and blocked routes.
A narrow southerly band of rain is expected to bring 15-20 millimetres of rain to the Taumarunui area over the next few hours, but river levels are expected to continue to rise only slightly before beginning to drop. No additional issues are anticipated.
High river levels are flooding across a number of roads, including Ohura Road and State Highway 4, which are likely to remain cut for a few days.
People are asked not to risk driving through flooding.
Council road contractors are busy responding to multiple local slip outages around the district, which will take some time to clear.
NZTA advised that the major road outage on SH4 between Taumarunui and Te Kuiti will not be cleared for a couple of days.
SH43 (The Forgotten World Highway) between Taumarunui and Whangamomona is also blocked with multiple slips.
People are asked to avoid these areas or delay their trip if possible. Anyone who is travelling should check the NZTA Journey Planner before leaving.
Communities cut off earlier in the day
Earlier, the heavy rainfall that was forecast to ease last night continued at a higher intensity than anticipated, notably around the northern Ruapehu area.
Ohura, Matiere and Tokorima townships were isolated from slips and flooding across local access roads.
The Mangaroa Stream near Ohura continued to rise, with reports that some houses in Ohura were under threat. Civil Defence said the situation was under control.
A family in Matiere self-evacuated from their home due to the rising Ohura Stream and were being cared for by the local community at the local Cosmopolitan Club.
Manley said that while some Ruapehu Water Treatment Plants (WTP) stopped operating due to high river turbidity, there was no issue with supply as reservoirs were able to meet demand.
The recovery focus over the coming days would be on the roading network, Manley said.
“With the number of slips, people are asked to be patient as road contractors move around the district.
“People driving around the district are asked to take additional care, drive to the conditions, and watch out for work crews.”
Any local road outage issues should be reported to the council on 07 895 8188.
Road network update
Local roads: Ohura Road – road closed in usual places. Will not open until flood water recedes. Mangapapa Road – road closed in usual places. Will not open until flood water recedes. Ongarue Waimiha – road closed from Waimiha School to Poro-o-Tarao due to flooding. Currently deeper than a vehicle. No access to Ongarue Stream road where there are currently trees down and power outages. Kawautahi Road – large slip, road now open. Hohotaka Road (closed to heavy vehicles) – there are a few old sections of subsidence and slumping. A new section has occurred overnight which crosses the centreline of the road. A small vehicle/ute can pass – not suitable for trucks. Liasing with New Plymouth District Council to close Waitaangas – this is a contingency plan for when Ohura/SH43 are closed. Ongarue Back Road from Taringamotu to Okahukura – flooding.
State Highways: SH30 Kopaki to Bennydale – direct link to Poro-o-Tarao/Ongarue Waimiha Road. Cannot be used as detour route to Te Kuiti. SH3 Awakino between Mokau and Piopio. SH4 between Te Mapara to Taumaranui – will not be open before Thursday. SH43 between Taumarunui and Whangamomona – many small slips. Unable to clear due to response at SH4. SH4 at Piriaka – open to one lane.
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