Spring Creek residents safe to return home

Spring Creek residents evacuated as a precautionary yesterday can return home this morning.

Marlborough District Council says the Spring Creek stopbank held up well during yesterday’s flooding with no signs of seepage, slumping or overlapping but there is considerable surface flooding in the area.

Renwick residents can also return to their homes this morning.

Marlborough Emergency Management, Council and response agencies are currently working throughout the province to ascertain damage particularly in the Awatere, Wairau Valley, Northbank and Waihopai areas.

An Air Force Unimog was used to evacuate people from their vehicles in the Para Swamp area, SH1 last night.

Flight Lieutenant Mark Brain said about 20 people became stranded when rising water from the Wairau River flooded the road in front and behind them.  A Unimog was used as the water was too deep for four wheel drive vehicles and those affected were taken to Spring Creek and on to the Civil Defence Centre at Stadium 2000.

Some have been taken back to retrieve their vehicles this morning and State Highway One, has reopened to one lane.

Agencies will continue to closely monitor flood prevention infrastructure in the region for any changes after the significant weather event of the past 24 hours.

The Wairau River has peaked and is now tracking down.

Rai Falls received 281mm of rain with many parts of the district getting more than 200mm of rain in line with initial MetService New Zealand forecasts.

There continues to be widespread flooding throughout the region. Travel is still not recommended unless absolutely necessary. If travel is required, please drive with extreme caution and to the road conditions.

NZTA says State Highway 1 between Koromiko and Mount Pleasant reopened shortly before 6am.

Roads, updated at 9.56am:

State Highway 63 remains closed between Renwick and Saint Arnaud, with the highway washed out at Andersons Floodway Bridge between Wairau Valley Township. The route is expected to remain closed today and into tomorrow.

Current State Highway Closures:

SH6 Blenheim between Curry Street and Hutchenson Street

SH6 Belgrove to Murchison

SH63 Renwick to St Arnaud township