Heavy rain hits Waipa district
Latest update: 8am,18 April 2017
Heavy rain combined with strong winds and a powerful storm surge may cause flooding and damage across the district.
Reports of storm damage
Please contact Council by phoning 0800 WAIPADC (0800 924 723) any time day or night. If people or property are in danger always call 111.
Latest situation summary
Update 8am 18 April 2017
- All roads in the district are open. Baker Road and Harbutt Road were damaged and temporarily closed during the storm but now have one lane open for essential traffic. They will require more permanent work in the next few weeks.
- Lake Ngaroto remains closed.
Update 6.30pm 13 April 2017
- Due to revised weather forecasting, our Emergency Operating Centre has been disestablished and staff are now on stand by.
- We still urge residents to take care, particularly when driving in stormy conditions.
Update 5pm 13 April 2017
- We have activated our Emergency Operating Centre to monitor the situation of Cyclone cook on the district.
- Heavy and persistent rain is expected to hit the district in the early evening.
- Lake Karapiro could rise to its maximum level, Mercury Energy advise to remove anything close to the waters edge.
- Lake Ngaroto, Sculpture Park Walk Track and Pioneer Walkway all remain close.
- The Riverside reserve and track in Cambridge also remains closed.
- We've made contact with all major events happening in the district.
Stay informed
- For updates, please keep an eye on our Facebook page
- Civil Defence Waikato Facebook page
- Civil Defence NZ website
- MetService website
- Road closures: NZTA website
Civil Defence advice for severe weather
Stay inside. Avoid driving unless absolutely necessary.
Bring your pets inside. Move stock to shelter. If you have to evacuate, take your pets with you.
Put your household emergency plan into action and check your getaway kit in case you have to leave in a hurry.
Secure, or move indoors, all items that could get blown about and cause harm in strong winds.
Close windows, external and internal doors. Pull curtains and drapes over unprotected glass areas to prevent injury from shattered or flying glass.
If the wind becomes destructive, stay away from doors and windows and shelter further inside the house.
Power cuts are possible in severe weather. Unplug small appliances that could be affected by electrical power surges. If power is lost unplug major appliances to reduce the power surge and possible damage when power is restored.
Have enough water available for at least three days.
Stay out of flood water as there is a risk of wastewater contamination and unknown hazards.
Previous situation summaries
Update 3pm 12 April 2017
- A severe weather warning including strong winds is in place for the region. Expect widespread flooding, slips and storm damage, potentially including wind damage to powerlines and roofs.
- Driving conditions will be hazardous. Please take extra care on the roads, and consider altering Easter travel plans. Don't go out sightseeing if surface flooding occurs.
- Check your emergency kit. Make sure you have food and water at your home for seven days.
- Check your guttering and drains are clear. Secure any tiems that may get blown around.
- Ensure your pets are safe. If you need to evacuate, take them with you.
- Lake Ngaroto remains closed due to flooding. This will be reviewed again after Easter weekend.
- Bayley Road remains closed due to a collapsed culvert. Attempts to complete repairs were prevented by bad weather. (It's not possible to lay replacement pipes during flooding.) The road may not be reopened until after Easter weekend.
Update 9am 11 April 2017
- Our staff and contractors are continuing to work on clean-up of the district following the impact of Ex-Cyclone Debbie.
- Lake Ngaroto remains closed as flood waters have still not receded. This will be reviewed after Easter weekend.
- Work continues on repairing Bayley Road. We expect to have a progress update on Thursday 13 April.
Update 12pm 7 April 2017
- Our staff and contractors are continuing to work on clean-up of the district following the impact of Ex-Cyclone Debbie.
- Bayley Road (Wharepuhunga) is closed to all traffic (vehicles and pedestrians) as a culvert has washed out underneath the road. Please do not attempt to access this road or to use the bridge as it is very unsafe. Repairs will take several days, we are hoping to have the road open again before the Easter weekend.View photos on our Facebook page.
- Lake Ngaroto is currently closed due to unusually high water levels, storm damage, and muddy conditions throughout. Please do not attempt to access this area. A re-evaluation will be made on Monday 10 April.View photos on our Facebook page.
Update 9am 7 April 2017
- Our staff and contractors are continuing to work on clean-up of the district following the impact of Ex-Cyclone Debbie.
- The only road closed in our district due to storm damage is Bayley Road (Wharepuhunga) as a culvert has washed out. Detours are in place.
- Lake Ngaroto is currently closed. Please do not attempt to access this area.
Update 5pm 5 April 2017
- Our staff are actively monitoring known flood prone areas - in particular Golf Road, Tuhikaramea Road, Park Road and Collins Road. Benn Road will also be inspected and monitored due to historical flooding.
- Lake Ngaroto is closed. Please do not attempt to access this area.
Slips and Trees Down
- Kakepuku Walking Track - significant slip 20 minutes up track. Track is impassable and very slippery.
- Maungatatari Road just before Dam - rubble starting to fall onto road, potential slip site.
- There is a minor slip on Rewi Street that has blocked a footpath.
- Slip on Rice Road is currently being repaire, the aim is to re-open the road tonight.
- Trees down on Rukuhia Road, Kairangi Road.
Roads
- No roads have been formally closed as of yet in Waipa, however Old Mountain Road (near Waipa) has been closed.
- Fulton Hogan have reported that they have attended to flooding at : Collins, O'Regan, Tuikaramea, Whitiker, Wallace and Forkert Roads. These locations have been sign posted to alert drivers to the surface flooding.
Flooding
- The walkway for Pekerau School adjoining Cambridge Road has flooded and is not usable. This may result in additional traffic on Te Rahu Road, which is already experiencing wastewater overflows and surface flooding in the area.
- Properties on Park Road (TA) are at risk of flooding from rising levels of the Mangaohoi Stream. There are approximately 6 houses that may be at risk of flooding as they are within the Bunded area. This area has required pumping to control flooding in the past.
- Pumps are been located on site at Park Road - Water Services staff are going to door knock to inform residents about the situation and any actions that may be required to be taken. It is not considered that evacuation will be required at this stage of these properties. This will be subject to continued monitoring.
- There is approximately 1m of freeboard still between the water level and the top of the stream before it breaches. This is under active monitoring.
Storm water
- A number of culverts, catchpits and inlets have been reported as being blocked, which is resulting in localised flooding.
- Crows nest culvert near Mighty River Domain is blocked and may cause issues.
- Forrest Road, CB. Storm water swale not functioning. Flooding encroaching on a Power Transformer. Waipa Networks staff have checked storm water swale on Forrest Road (CB), no concerns at this stage.
Waste water
- There is wastewater manhole surging on Factory Road.
- There is a wastewater issue in the area of Te Rahu Road, resulting from a surge charging manhole earlier in the day. Sand bag requests have been received from residents in the Te Rahu Road area.
Update 2.30pm 5 April 2017
- Our staff are actively monitoring known flood prone areas - in particular Golf Road, Tuhikaramea Road, Park Road and Collins Road. Benn Road will also be inspected and monitored due to historical flooding.
- Lake Ngaroto is closed. Please do not attempt to access this area.
Slips
- There is a minor slip on Rewi Street that has blocked a footpath.
- There are minor slips throughout the Te Pahu area, and slips on Sainsbury Road. A slip on Sainsbury road has occurred covering a third of the road, however, this is located on a blind corner and is also blocking a culvert which is resulting in water backing up.
- A slip has occurred on Kaipaki Road, near Kaipaki School. This is covering approximately half the road.
- A report of a slip has been registered by a resident near the Golf Road and Cambridge Road intersection. Roading staff to confirm.
- Rice Road - there has been a culvert collapse on Rice Road resulting in half the road collapsing. A urgent request has been sent to the contractor.
- Aspin Road (near Flume Road) - a slip has occurred covering one lane. Contractor has been notified.
Roads
- No roads have been formally closed as of yet in Waipa.
- Roading Flooding occurring on Golf Road, Tuhikaramea Road, Limeworks Loop Road, Whittaker Road, Te Pahu Road, Kaipaki Road, Hams Road, O'Regan Road.
Flooding
- The walkway for Pekerau School adjoining Cambridge Road has flooded and is not usable. This may result in additional traffic on Te Rahu Road, which is already experiencing wastewater overflows and surface flooding in the area.
- Properties on Park Road (TA) are at risk of flooding from rising levels of the Mangaohoi Stream. There are approximately 6 houses that may be at risk of flooding as they are within the Bunded area. This area has required pumping to control flooding in the past.
- Pumps are been located on site at Park Road - Water Services staff are going to door knock to inform residents about the situation and any actions that may be required to be taken. It is not considered that evacuation will be required at this stage of these properties. This will be subject to continued monitoring.
Stormwa
ter
- A number of culverts, catchpits and inlets have been reported as being blocked, which is resulting in localised flooding. There is a possibility of manhole lids popping off due to surcharging.
Wastewater
- There is wastewater manhole surging on Factory Road (TA).
Update 12pm midday 5 April 2017
- Our Water Services staff are actively monitoring known flood prone areas.
- Roading flooding occurring on Golf Road, Limeworks Loop Road, Whittaker Road, Te Pahu Road, Kaipaki Road, Hams Road and Collins Road.
- There is a minor slip on Rewi Street that has blocked a footpath which is used by children before and after school. The area has been cordoned off and contractors are on site to repair the damage.
- There are minor slips throughout the Te Pahu area, and a slip on Sainsbury Road, however, this slip has not blocked the road fully.
- Properties on Park Road (TA) are at risk of flooding from rising levels of the Mangaohoi Stream. There are approximately 6 houses that may be at risk of flooding as they are within the Bunded area. This area has required pumping to control flooding in the past.
- Old Mountain Road (in the Waikato District Council's jurisdiction) has been closed.
- There is a storm water and sewerage issue in the area of Te Rahu Road, where the storm water infilitration is putting pressure on the sewerage system.
- Sand bag requests have been received from residents in the Te Rahu Road area. A wastewater overflow resulted from a surge charging manhole earlier in the day.
- The next update meeting is scheduled for 2pm.
Update 10.45am 5 April 2017
- There has been a slip on Rewi St (TA) blocking the footpath opposite the skate park. The area has been cordoned off and contractors are on site to repair the damage.
- Team members are attending several overflowing manholes and property gully traps in the Te Awamutu.