Weather update - 31 January 2023
UPDATE: 9.47am, 31 January 2023
The latest callout jobs that our crews are responding to:
- Beaumont Road - Outlet by the boat ramp going into the lake blocked
- Kaska Road – Culverts on Kaska Road are blocked causing surface flooding - Contractors attended and cleared the culvert
- Kokiri Street – Drain in reserve is overflowing and footbridge has been washed out
- Kuirau Park – Tree branch down
- Okoheriki Street – Stormwater drain is blocked causing surface flooding
- Oturoa Road – Surface flooding
- Poutakataka Road – Debris covering one lane of the road
- Ray Board Park – Large crack in track by newly planted fruit trees
- SH30 - Minor slips on SH30 for 3km from Matahi Road toward Kawerau
- Spencer Road - Partial tree on road
- Springfield Road – Large branch snagged on tree overhanging footpath - Contractors attended and removed branch
- Te Puea Road - Tree down covering one lane. Approx. 60m from SH30 - Contractors attended and removed the tree
- Totara Road – Slip on the road past the one lane bridge
Road closures currently in place:
- ROAD NOW OPEN - Brookdale Street – Surface flooding due to high stream levels, resident access only - Signs being removed this morning. Crew checking all cesspits to ensure they are clear
- Dods Road – Large slip has washed out a section of road - Site assessment today, repairs planning to start tomorrow if possible
- Manawahe Road – Large slip approx. 2km up from Pongakawa Valley Road - Crew on site this morning clearing this slip
- ROAD NOW OPEN - Oakland Drive - Surface flooding due to high stream levels, resident access only - Signs being removed this morning. Crew checking all cesspits to ensure they are clear
- Te Kopia Road – Debris from large slip continually washing across the road - Contractors are onsite clearing. This will take approximately 3-5 days work to repair damage here.
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UPDATE: 6.16pm, 29 January 2023
The latest callout jobs that our crews are responding to:
- Okoheriki Street - Stormwater block. Contractors attended and cleared the grate
- Oturoa Road - Flooding across the road. Contractors attended and put signage in place
- Poutakataka Road - Slip covering one lane. Contractors en-route to assess and clear or put signage in place
- Totara Road - Slip covering one lane. Contractors en-route to assess and clear or put signage in place
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UPDATE: 1.18pm, 29 January 2023
The latest callout jobs that our crews are responding to:
- Amohia Street - Large tree branch fallen and blocking carparks and footpath - Contractors attended and removed the branch
- Dansey Road - Slip covering left lane heading toward Mamaku - Contractors attended and put signage in place
- Kaharoa Road - Slip blocking one lane - Contractors attended and put signage in place
- Kuirau Park - Large tree branch on grass (Ranolf Street side, near roundabout)
- Linton Park - Trees down and slip on the track behind the community centre
- Manawahe Road - Slip blocking road approx. 2km from the Pongakawa Valley Road intersection - Road closed. Crew onsite clearing the slip.
- Okere Road - Minor slip on the roadway outside the Holiday Park - Contractors attended and put signage in place
- Titokorangi Drive - Surface flooding due to blocked drains
Road closures currently in place:
- Brookdale Street – Surface flooding due to high stream levels, resident access only
- Dods Road – Large slip has washed out a section of road
- Manawahe Road – Large slip approx. 2km up from Pongakawa Valley Road
- Oakland Drive - Surface flooding due to high stream levels, resident access only
- Te Kopia Road – Debris from large slip continually washing across the road
These closures are likely to remain in place until repairs can take place on Tuesday 31 January.
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UPDATE: 10.37am, 29 January 2023
MetService has lifted all severe weather warnings for the Bay of Plenty today. Please continue to take care as our rivers and streams are running high, some roads are still closed, and there is a lot of clean-up work taking place.
The Ngongotahā Stream has now reached peak levels and this could cause some surface flooding, particularly on roads in the area.
Residents should remain vigilant and be prepared to evacuate if the need arises. Anyone who feels unsafe and wishes to evacuate but needs assistance should call Rotorua Lakes Council on 07 348 4199 (Available 24/7).
Contractors and council staff continue to closely monitor the situation.
The latest callout jobs that our crews are responding to:
- Brookdale Drive - Surface flooding - Road closed. Contractors have put road closure signage in place. Resident access only
- Eruera Street - Surface flooding - Contractors attended and cleared the grate
- Mountain Road - Slip on the bend near 55 Mountain Road, covering one lane - Contractors attended and signage is in place
- Ngongotaha Stream - Overflowing near Brake Road
- SH30 - Tree down covering one lane between Moose Lodge and Lake Okataina Road
- Hamurana Road – Slip covering one lane (approx. 1km from SH 33) - Contractors attended, cut back vegetation and put signage in place. They will return to clean the area
- Parsons Road - Slip covering one lane - Contractors attended and closed the road. Signage is in place
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UPDATE: 9.26pm, 28 January 2023
The MetService New Zealand heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty has been extended until 11am tomorrow (Sunday 29 January). The severe thunderstorm watch is now in place until 9am tomorrow.
A reminder to follow the advice below, and if you don't need to travel in this weather, please stay warm and dry indoors!
Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Residents living near waterways such as the Ngongotaha Stream are encouraged to stay alert to rising water levels and as a precaution, to be prepared to evacuate if that were to become necessary.
If you do have to travel, take extra care on the roads as surface flooding and slips are possible and driving conditions may become hazardous.
Residents are advised to remain up to date with MetService forecasts over the long weekend.
To report any weather related issues, please contact Rotorua Lakes Council on 07 348 4199 (24/7). To report an emergency, please contact 111.
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UPDATE: 7.09pm, 28 January 2023
The latest callout jobs that our crews are responding to:
- Dods Road - Road wash out near Puati Road - Road closed
- Tarewa Road - Tree branch covering one lane (approx. 1km towards Lynmore from Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) - Contractors attended and removed branch
- Te Kopia Road - Road is closed between Coates Road and Mangamingi Road due to slip and debris - Contractors attended to assess
- Waikaukau Road - Flooding and road wash out near Whirinaki Valley Road - Contractors attended and put signage in place
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UPDATE: 4.31pm, 28 January 2023
The latest callout jobs that our crews are responding to:
- Homedale Street - Dislodged manhole cover
- Okere Road - Tree branches in power lines
- Paradise Valley Road - Slip between Paradise Valley Road and Ralph Road blocking both lanes (near Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park) - Contractors have attended and cut back vegetation and will return to clean up
- Preston Road - Tree hanging over footpath - Contractors dispatched to assess
- Ranolf Street - Tree branch on footpath - Contractors dispatched to assess
- Te Weta Road - Slip and surface flooding on gravel section before the one lane bridge - Contractors attended and put signage up
- Western Road - Tree branches down in skate park
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UPDATE: 12.43pm, 28 January 2023
The latest callout jobs that our crews are responding to:
- Devon Street West - Flooding down by the stadium - Contractors attended and cleared blocked grates and put signage in place
- Te Ngae Road (SH30A) - Tree down on east bound lane - Contractors attended and cleared tree
- Western Road - Surface flooding - Contractors attended and put signage in place
Wastewater overflow:
- Petrie Street - Contractors onsite and have cordoned off the area
- Victoria Street - Contractors resolved
These overflows are due to an overwhelming amount of stormwater entering the system in a short space of time. Contractors are attending and will cordon off these areas. People should treat surface water in these areas as if potentially contaminated.
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UPDATE: 10.05am, 28 January 2023
So far, Council is aware of the following weather related calls that crews are attending:
- Arawa Street – Tree down between courthouse at Te Aka Mauri
- Arts Village (Hinemoa Street) – Tree down in carpark
- Edmund Road – Surface flooding around Linton Park - Contractors put up signage and cleared debris
- Endean Road – 2 slips 1.5km from Paradise Valley Road, covering most of the road - Contractors cleared one lane for the weekend and will return to clear the other. Signage in place
- Hamurana Road - Tree branches down - Contractors cleared
- Oakland Place – Surface flooding - Road closed. Contractors have put signage in place
- Paradise Valley Road – Blocked drain with debris - Contractors dispatched
- Pukehangi Road/Hoyte Place - Surface flooding - Contractors are attending and clearing
- State Highway 5 – Tree blocking one lane 300m before Western Road heading North
- Western Road – Surface flooding covering half the road. One lane blocked - Contractors dispatched
- Western Road – Blocked cesspit causing surface flooding
There is also an overflow of treated wastewater that is pumped to the forest to be sprayed there from the city’s wastewater treatment plant into the Puarenga Stream. This has occurred due to the amount of treated wastewater, due to the rain, exceeding the rate at which the pumps that send this treated wastewater to the forest are able to do so. The situation is being monitored and signage is being erected at Sulphur Bay. Such overflows can occur when large amounts of stormwater enter the wastewater system when there is a lot of rain in a short space of time.
Regardless of any overflows, advice from public health authorities is to not swim in waterways during and for at least 48 hours after any significant rain events. This is because of contamination from run-off from land that occurs and any other contaminants entering waterways.
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Rotorua Lakes Council is actively monitoring the current weather warnings and contractors are on standby to respond to any weather related issues that may occur.
A heavy rain warning and severe thunderstorm watch is currently in place for the Bay of Plenty until midnight tonight, Saturday 28 January. MetService has forecast another 70 to 100mm of rain about the ranges and lesser amounts nearer the coast (heavy rain warning has been in place since 9pm last night, Friday 27 January).
Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Residents living near waterways such as the Ngongotaha Stream are encouraged to stay alert to rising water levels and as a precaution, to be prepared to evacuate if that were to become necessary.
Take care if you are on the roads as surface flooding and slips are possible and driving conditions may become hazardous.
Residents are advised to remain up to date with MetService forecasts during the long weekend.
To report any weather related issues, please contact Rotorua Lakes Council on 07 348 4199 (24/7). To report an emergency, please contact 111.