Upper Waitaki Weather 11.15am 20 July

Published on 20 July 2022

Rainfall has eased overnight with no significant falls however many roads and highways are predicted to remain closed for some time. Water supplies also continue to be affected. The Waitaki Emergency Operations Centre was activated yesterday and continues to support those impacted by this event.

Waitaki River Levels and Restrictions:
The dam flows have increased substantially meaning the Waitaki River is running higher than usual with a flow of 1500 cumecs per second at 9am today. Please note the river margins may be impacted by this high flow and changing river channels.

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:
The washout at Ohau Road remains a priority and Civil Defence continues to support residents and visitors who are cut off. Our contractors are on site today to commence works on the washout and hope to have some access restored by the weekend.

State Highway Closures:
SH83 between Omarama and Otematata remains closed, though the section to Kurow is now open. Due to surface flooding, caution is advised along this route. SH8 is now open from Omarama to Twizel.  

Other Local Roads:
Contractors are continuing to inspect local roads. A number of roads are closed due to flooding, washouts and landslides. Due to the road closures the Omarama Transfer Station will not be open today. Please continue to check our website for the latest on local road closures.

We ask the public to continue to keep away from any waterways as rivers and streams may rise quickly. 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.

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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