Waitaki Weather 4.15pm 20 July

Published on 20 July 2022

Waitaki River levels remain high, and we continue to monitor this with advice from ECan flood engineers. Parts of SH8 and SH83 have reopened, and water supplies continue to be affected. The Waitaki Emergency Operations Centre is in its second day and continues to liaise with emergency services and those impacted.

Waitaki River Levels and Restrictions:
The dam flows have been high today with the Waitaki River flowing at 1388 cumecs. ECan flood engineers monitored the situation across the day and police conducted a door knock and letter drop at Waitaki Bridge Village this afternoon advising residents of the situation. This threat has now subsided however this could still change so if you live in the area, please remain alert.

River and waterway levels remain high across the district. We ask the public to continue to keep away from any waterways as rivers and streams may change. Unless you are a resident, we request people stay away from damaged areas. Your presence might put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods, such as contaminated water, damaged roads, and other hazards.

Boil water notices on the Otematata and Omarama Water Supplies remain in place. This includes water used for food preparation and hygiene purposes, such as brushing teeth. The conserve water notice on the Windsor Water Supply remains in place and the pumps are still turned off.

Lake Ohau Road:
Just short of 300 cubic metres of rock has been deposited into the washout. Further works will continue to reinstate this as soon as possible. The washout at Ohau Road remains a priority and Civil Defence has been working with the community to support their needs.

State Highway Closures:
SH83 between Omarama and Otematata has opened. Due to surface flooding and road damage, caution is advised along this route. SH8 between Omarama and Tarras remains closed.

Other Local Roads:
Contractors have been working hard across the district as they continue to inspect local roads. A number of roads remain closed due to flooding, washouts and landslides. Please continue to check our website for the latest on local road closures.

We have received reports that members of the public may be removing or altering temporary road signage and cones. This can create a hazard for other road users and is also a criminal offence. Do not remove or adjust any signage or cones.

Mayor Gary Kircher says “I’d like to thank our response team for working with the community through this event to support their needs. I’m pleased with the progress so far to get roads re-opened and acknowledge that a lot more work is still required. We encourage people with any issues to report these to our emergency response team or emergency services as appropriate.”

Please keep an eye on the WDC website for local road and the NZTA website for State Highway conditions and updates.

If there are any further reports to make, please contact the Waitaki District Council. Call us on 03 433 0300 or 0800 108 081 or service@waitaki.govt.nz. For any emergencies, please call 111.

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