No road access between Picton and Blenheim as roads close

Updated at 7:20pm

A week-long State of Local Emergency has been issued Marlborough-wide, some Renwick residents have been told to prepare for evacuation, and some households have been told they may be without power tonight after flooding has hit across the region.

Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor declared a district-wide State of Local Emergency at 3.30pm today for seven days.

Marlborough Emergency Management has issued a ‘be ready to evacuate’ warning for residents in the Lower Terrace area in Renwick, while the Spring Creek evacuation remained in effect for another night.

Incident Controller Richard MacNamara said Council’s hydrology team had been running modelling on a stopbank at the confluence of the Waihopai/Wairau rivers and determined the bank had become unstable.

This poses a risk of breaking and flooding lower parts of Renwick township (Lower Terrace) and surrounding land adjacent to Gibson’s Creek and up to the Waihopai/Wairau confluence.

“Weare taking the precaution of advising residents of Lower Terrace to be prepared to evacuate. The NZ Defence Force, FENZ and Marlborough’s Rapid Response team NZ-RT20 will be door knocking in the area.

An emergency mobile alert will be sent should evacuation be required immediately.

Emergency accommodation:

If required to evacuate, stay with family or friends as a first option.

Anyone unable to arrange their own accommodation can go to the Civil Defence Centre (CDC) at Stadium 2000, Blenheim. From the CDC, people are encouraged to take up commercial overnight accommodation options.

For those unable to make other arrangements, the Omaka Marae is available as a last option overnight as well.

The CDC at Stadium 2000 will be available through the night for information and shelter should anyone be unable to secure their own accommodation.

If required to evacuate:

• Stay with friends or family first, make contact sooner rather than later

• Have a grab bag ready

• Take a change of clothes and sleeping bags or blankets for each household member

• Take prescription medications, car and house keys and a phone charger

• Keep your mobile phone on and charged so you can receive calls and Antenno alerts

• Take your pets with you - they are your responsibility

Power cuts

Marlborough Lines currently reports multiple faults in Blenheim around Wai Iti Avenue, Whareatea Road and Ketu Lane, in the Wairau Valley beyond Renwick and Northbank, and the Quaildale/Bankhouse area.

"Our teams are still out working, and we will restore power as soon as it is safe to do so", commented Marlborough Lines via their website.

"Given the extent of flooding across the region, customers currently without power should prepare for the possibility of power remaining off overnight".

On site:

Police on site at Spring Creek said they'd had no problems with residents after the extension of the evacuation and were thankful for the compliance.

"We're only allowing in the odd resident to retrieve extra belongings for tonight or feed animals - everyone's been really good and understanding about it all".

Daniel Ham, operator at Marlborough Heavy Haulage was moving equipment out of a yard by the Wairau River just before SH1 between Spring Creek and Koromiko were closed.

"We're the second yard back from the river and we've just finished moving equipment to higher ground or onto other sites.

"Right now [5pm] is the lightest rain of the day here - it's come up about three meters since 9 this morning and there's still plenty rain coming down in the ranges which takes about 12 hours to get to us.

"We called it at about 11 and decided to move, but we haven't had power on site here since around 2".

"I've been pretty flat out and haven't picked up many calls today, except my dad who lives by the Awatere - he told me over there the highest he's seen the river in the 35 years he's lived there".

Updated at 5.35pm:

State Highway 1 is now closed between Spring Creek and Koromiko due to flooding.

There is no access for traffic between Picton and Blenheim as no local road detours are available. Drivers with Picton ferry connections can expect delays until floodwaters subside and the road reopens.

The closure joins others at SH63 from Renwick to St Arnaud and SH6/Nelson St between Curry St and Hutcheson St.

However, SH6 between Rai Valley and Nelson is now open.

Updated at 4.36pm:

MetService says the worst of the heavy rain band that's been hammering the top of the South Island is moving away, but rain will continue to fall.

MetService meteorologist Katie Hillyer told RNZ that although the rain warning for Marlborough was lifted at 3pm this afternoon, there's more rain to come, with some potentially heavy showers tonight.

"The region is still going to see some showers, some potentially heavy tonight, that will slow the clearing of that flood water."

The weather in the worst hit regions is forecast to clear up by Sunday afternoon.

Marlborough's Rai Valley had recorded between 250 and 280 millimetres of rain in the past 48 hours.

The weather station at Blenheim's Woodbourne Airport has recorded just over 130mm of rain in the past 48 hours.

Around the Rai Falls and Rai Valley area, stations had recorded between 250 - 280 mm of rain in the past 48 hours.

"That's a heck of a lot of rain," Hillyer said.

Marlborough Emergency Management has issued a 'be ready to evacuate' warning for residents in the Lower Terrace area in Renwick.

Man in serious condition after climbing a tree to escape floodwaters near Blenheim:

A man has been hospitalised with serious injuries after climbing a tree to escape from rising floodwaters near Blenheim, reports RNZ.

Emergency services say the man was trapped in his car on Kaituna-Tuamarina Road along the Wairua River near Kaituna around midday.

Firefighters say he managed to get out and climb the tree, before being rescued by a specialist water response team about an hour later.

St John said they took the man to Wairau Hospital.

Record river levels, 12.27pm:

The Awatere River’s water level at the Council measuring site at Awapiri has reached 100-year flood levels, while the Wairau River has gone over its four-year flood levels of flow and the Pelorus has burst its banks.

MetService has said that the forecast is for the rain to peter out through Friday, with the worst of the weather to be passed over Marlborough by mid-afternoon. Saturday will still see showers, before clearing on Sunday and Monday.

A localised state of emergency has been declared by Marlborough district mayor Nadine Taylor.

Blenheim School has announced it is closing, and Marlborough Girls’ College is closing at 12.30.

Marlborough council going as fast as possible on stopbank repairs, councillor says:

Councillor Gerald Hope was heading down to the stadium on Friday morning. The council was moving as fast as it could on stopbank repairs, he said.

“It’s not as simple as moving tons of rocks in.

“We’ve had good turnout at town meetings, people have asked questions. We’ve been straight up with residents about what’s going on.

“Our civil defence group is one of the best in the country.”

Staff from Nelson Marlborough’s Public Health Service were also at the stadium to support Civil Defence staff.

Public health co-ordinator Paula Kole said there was plenty of coffee and tea available for evacuees.

“We have an animal welfare station, first aid, an area for the children, and over there [behind screens] is for needs-based assessment.”

- LDR / Kira Carrington

Evacuations at Spring Creek:

Mandatory evacuation orders are in force in parts of Spring Creek, north of Blenheim, amid concerns a stopbank could fail as heavy rain swells the river.

A local state of emergency has been declared and emergency staff are helping residents of 60 homes to leave.

The Orange Heavy Rain Warning issued by MetService is still in place until 6pm this evening.

The region has already received significant rainfall and there remains some uncertainty about the duration and intensity of this event.

Vineyards near Spring Creek:

Ian Wiffin at Spring Creek Vintners says the river is a lot lower than it was during the floods a few years ago. "But with the damage from that flood, Council has been telling us that the critical number for the stop banks in their current state is around 4,000m3/sec but I understand we’d all rather be safe than sorry with the evacuation.

He says they put internal systems in place to work above a certain Wairau River level to mitigate any potential risks, so when he heard Spring Creek was having evacuations their policies kicked into effect with preparations last night.

“We told our staff not to come in today as our main entrance is off one of those roads and staff safety is paramount.

“Minor flooding for us isn’t the end of the world for us - all the wine tanks are sealed tightly and any water sensitive equipment is up at high points on the property.

“Having spoken with the Council around the remedial stop bank work, they’ve been good with keeping us informed around what’s happening even though it’s been frustrating for all with delays in funding but I understand they’ll be starting works this summer.”

Roads:

NZTA says with heavy rain affecting the top of the South Island overnight, and continuing to fall this morning, road crews are attending multiple incidents on state highways across the region.

Flooding has closed State Highway 63 in Renwick between Anglesea Street and Inkerman Street. Local road detours are available, and drivers can expect delays.

System manager Wayne Oldfield said surface flooding had also been reported at multiple sites.

“This includes State Highway 6 at Havelock, State Highway 63 in the Wairau Valley, and State Highway 1 near Koromiko.”

“These sections of highway are currently open, but driving conditions are challenging. While the rain continues to fall, drivers must be prepared for road hazards and the possibility of road closures,” Wayne says.

Marlborough Roads advises road users to avoid travel if possible. If people are needing to travel, please drive with caution and to the conditions. Updated roading information as follows:

• The closure of SH6 is now between Havelock and Hira.
• Queen Charlotte Drive is closed at the Havelock end due to flooding on the causeway.
• Ronga Road is closed from the SH6 intersection, closing access to French Pass and Tennyson Inlet.
• The closure on New Renwick Road is now between Fairhall School and Dog Point Road.
• There is extensive flooding in the Canvastown, Wakamarina area, caution is advised.
• The Jacksons Road Ford is closed.
• There is flooding on SH1 at the Awatere River Bridge, prior to Seddon, drive with caution.
• All Spring Creek roads are closed from SH1 through to the corner of Thomas and Neils Road.
• SH63 from Anglesea Street to St Arnaud remains closed.

Sewer network overloaded:

Marlborough District Council advises some parts of the Blenheim sewer network are overloaded. Currently affected areas are Dillon Street, Leefield Street, Houldsworth Street, Muller Road and Stuart Street.

Residents should note the following:

• Do not flush toilets unless necessary
• Limit water use
• Be aware there is raw sewerage present
• Stay out of flood water which may be contaminated
• Please practice good hygiene.