Weather related issues – 9am, 12 July 2011 - 12/07/2011

Roading
Overnight slips have blocked vehicle access at:

• Whanganui River Road – between Ranana and Jerusalem
• Kauarapaoa Road
• Waireka Road
• Kaikokopu Road

The roads are expected to be open by midday on Tuesday.

Based on the current weather forecast, further slips are expected throughout the district as the ground is very saturated.

Weather-related issues - 4pm, 11 July 2011

Infrastructure
The infrastructure team has dealt with minor issues over the weekend and on Monday. Staff were on duty with culverts and clearances as debris came down the drains most of the weekend.

Downers is continuing with waterways and drains clearances and checks today and during the coming week.

Wind and lightning have not yet been a major issue for our infrastructure but major power blips have meant that the protection systems have cut in. The bore protection shutdowns operated at Abelard and Heloise bores as a precaution.

Council infrastructure staff and Downers’ crews have met and are maintaining reactive readiness.

Cooks Gardens
A lighting tower at Cooks Gardens was damaged on Saturday night. A row of lights slipped behind the row below and the tower is on a lean. When weather conditions permit, the lights will be lowered to the ground between the Ward Observatory and the tower so they can be fixed. The other lighting towers will then be checked. This will not be done until it is safe for contractors to do the work.

A handrail fell off the balcony of the Bell Tower in Cooks Gardens.

Bastia Hill water tower
The wireless network was taken out by a lightning strike on the Bastia Hill water tower which has affected Gonville Cafe Library and other wireless systems. The library is still able to operate by using the same system the mobile library uses.

The pole fuses are blown at the water tower and the power company has been informed. As soon as power is restored, we will be able to check whether any of our equipment has been affected.

Roads
There was a slip on Rangitatau East Road and a fallen tree blocked Holmwood Road.

How the public can help council

Land owners are asked to look after their own drainage channels and streams on private property and keep them clear of debris. This will help to ensure the drainage network does not become blocked.

If members of the public see a leaf-cluttered sump, we ask them to help council by clearing the leaves. Wind strips leaves off trees faster than we can clear them. If everyone helps, it makes it better for us all.

Do you have photos of storm damage?
Wanganui District Council’s engineering team is collecting photographic evidence of the impact of heavy rain events. This will help the team to understand the way in which the district’s natural and built environment responds to rain events.

We are seeking photographs showing the impact and effect of the heavy rain over the past few days.

Please post or email images, which should be date stamped, with your name, contact number and the location the photograph was taken. It is also important to state the time (to the nearest hour) that the photograph was taken, to link the image to the rain record.

Images should be sent to:
Collie Siew
Infrastructure Group
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui
Or emailed to collie.siew@wanganui.govt.nz.