Storm cleanup ongoing with effects still being felt on the Coromandel

Published on 03 February 2023

SH25A slip Feb 2023 NZTA.jpg

(Photo: A large chunk of SH25A (Kōpū-Hikuai Road) has fallen away)

The condition of our roads and State Highways across the district remains unchanged from yesterday afternoon.

The main closures are a slip at Ruamahunga Bay on the Thames Coast blocking SH25 at that point. The road remains clear above and below that point with some delays from stop/go management as debris is cleared.

SH25A (Kōpū-Hikuai Road) will be closed until further notice due to the slip that has removed a large section of the road.

See the Roading page on our website for local road conditions.

The MetService Heavy Rain Watch for the The Hunua Ranges and the Coromandel Peninsula is in effect until 11am.

The forecast is for “periods of rain or showers. Total rainfall accumulations (around 30 to 50 mm) through the period would not normally be sufficient to issue a Watch, but due to the recent heavy rains these lesser amounts may still cause issues for the region,” MetService says.

The longer term forecast over the weekend and next week is for a mix of showers, rain and some fine periods. Stay up to date at www.metservice.com.

“With the current state of the roads in the district we are advising people to avoid unnecessary travel today,” says says Julian Snowball, our Council’s Emergency Management Spokesperson.

“If you do need to travel pack a supply of food, water and any medications and ensure you have sufficient fuel should there be a sudden slip or road closure and you need to take the lengthy detour around the Coromandel to get home,” says Mr Snowball.

All our Council customer service offices are open today and we’re planning to open our seven Refuse Transfer Stations. Kerbside rubbish and recycling collections will not take place as scheduled in Coromandel Rural North but at this stage, collections in Mercury Bay North and Whitianga will continue as scheduled but this is still dependent on conditions today. Check our website or Facebook page for any updates.

Te Whatu Ora Public Health Unit for Waikato has issued a red, “unsuitable for swimming” warning until at least Tuesday 7 February for all waterways in our district. This includes all lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries and coastal beaches in Waikato region, including the Coromandel.

This is due to the extreme rainfall and the potential bacterial contamination of waterways.

Dr Richard Wall, Te Whatu Ora Medical Officer of Health for Waikato recommends that where Public Health warnings are in place, the water should be avoided for all recreational use.

“If you do use the water for recreational purposes when a warning is in place, then you are potentially exposing yourself to harmful pathogens that can cause illnesses including gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and vomiting), respiratory illnesses, skin infections and ear infections,” Dr Wall says.

A member of the public has alerted our Council  to some potential vulnerability issues at a debris dam in the hills, near the Koputauaki Bay community north of Coromandel Town, as a result of the heavy rain.

This affects seven homes. Those whānau were asked to move immediately last night and were hosted at an alternative location overnight as a precaution.

Fire and Emergency and Civil Defence along with a local community leader are on site doing a rapid assessment of the risk and working through community support.

“We have taken immediate action in making sure families are safe, by moving them overnight until we can take a more thorough assessment this morning,” says Julian Snowball, our Council’s Emergency Management Spokesperson.

A strong 4.8 magnitude earthquake centred at Te Aroha at 2.02am was felt widely across the district but no damage has been reported.

 

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