You gotta look for it . . . I know it's there, popped down a few weeks ago.
The Opotiki Wharf is flooded with water and debris from the swollen Otara and Waioeka rivers.Photo Jan Shaw
Ross McCullough
Some residents were left isolated after torrential rain caused flooding that closed a number of roads in the Opotiki district last week.
More heavy rain is expected later this week and Civil Defence says staff will continue to monitor the situation and keep people up to date with developments.
Following heavy rain on Wednesday evening and into Thursday, river levels rose to semi-threatening levels and, in some cases, spilled over causing road closures and slips including one on Ohiwa Beach Road which was down to one lane on Thursday.
Waimana Gorge Road, Motu Road at the Waiaua end beyond Waiaua sections, Gault Road, Pakihi Road, Toones Road and Waiotahe Valley Road were all closed.
An aerial photograph taken by Steve Woods of Opotiki Helicopters, showed the swollen Otara and Waioeka rivers surrounding the town, along with the impact from surface flooding.
Civil Defence indicated on its Facebook page on Tuesday morning that 150-180mm of rain was expected to accumulate in the 24 hours from midday Wednesday to midday Thursday, with peak intensities of 15-25mm per hour predicted.
Yesterday, Bay of Plenty Regional Council duty flood manager Graeme O’Rourke said the rain had been intense with up to 250mm falling in a 24-hour period in some areas of the Eastern Bay.
Most areas experienced around 160mm in 24 hours.
Rain gauges around the Opotiki district showed sharp increases during the 24-hour period.
The main rainfall gauge for Opotiki showed there had been a peak of 150mm of rain at one point on Wednesday night.
The situation was predicted to be compounded over the weekend with further heavy rain anticipated through Saturday and Sunday, but there was a break in the weather.
Mr O’Rourke said the rain that did fall would be absorbed into the river flows with little difficulty.
Before last week’s rain, around 60mm had been recorded during the month.
So far this week 44mm has been recorded with rain steadily continuing in Opotiki.
Opotiki District Council engineering and services group manager, Chris Hopman, said Opotiki’s stormwater and wastewater pump station flows on Saturday peaked at around the same level as Thursday, but were now reducing to normal levels.
With the rain continuing to fall, he said river levels were still elevated but not high and generally council infrastructure was coping.
Mr O’ Rourke said most rivers in the Eastern Bay had peaked by Thursday. Those signed up to the regional council’s automated phone alerts received messages to move stock from low-lying areas and boats from mooring in Whakatane Harbour.
Source:
Intense rain closes rural roads - Your News - Opotiki NewsThere were a few more snappies of road flooding in the local paper,
was hoping they may also be on the net, but no such luck
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June 19, 2012, 07:02:25 AM
