Nelson Tasman Civil Defence news and blog

Heavy rain warning issued 8 May

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:27:17 +1200

The Met Service has issued the following warning today.

The Northern Ranges of Nelson

Rain is expected to develop in an east to northeast flow this afternoon and become heavier by evening. In the 13 hours between 5pm today (Tuesday) and 6am Wednesday morning, expect 80-100mm rain with up to 125mm possible in a few places. Peak intensities of 15-20mm/hr are possible in the early morning hours.

These heavy rainfalls have the potential to cause slips and surface flooding and members of the public are urged to stay up todate with the latest weather information at the Metservice website http://www.metservice.com

These sites are also useful:

Recovery Action Plan available

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:29:19 +1200

The Recovery Action Plan following the December rain event is now available.

Recovery Manager Michael Schruer says although it’s now public, it remains a living document with a name which doesn’t actually reflect its content.

“It’s not a plan itself; it’s more of a working document to both Councils on the work that has to be done for the recovery phase. Unfortunately, this misnomer has led people to think that it is ‘the’ plan for the way forward. But what actually happens with the Recovery Action Plan is the information is used by each Council when preparing their Long Term Plans (LTP).

Both Councils have used the information to schedule and prioritise recovery work into their own 2012/2022 LTP. Nelson’s LTP goes out for public consultation on 16 April while Tasman’s LTP closes today.

“The Recovery Action Plan is really a summary of actions, some of which are already underway. Even though the LTP will factor in most of the projects, many of the more urgent projects are already underway in the current financial year” Mr Schruer says.

In Nelson the Recovery Action Plan can be viewed at Civic House and at all Nelson Public Libraries while in Tasman it will be available from all Tasman District Council Service Centres and Libraries.

[1264284]

Minister launches nationwide earthquake campaign

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:24:44 +1300

Civil Defence Minister Chris Tremain today launched New Zealand ShakeOut, the biggest earthquake public education campaign ever staged in New Zealand.

“The ShakeOut campaign will last for six months, and will include radio and television advertisements, a social media campaign, and promotional activities around the country. This will culminate in a nationwide earthquake drill on 26 September,” says Mr Tremain.

“New Zealand ShakeOut is for everyone. I encourage workplaces, schools and families to get involved. The Ministry of Education is supporting the drill by encouraging all schools in the country to participate. I was pleased to be able to launch the campaign at Owhiro Bay School in Wellington.

“The campaign includes a website at www.getthru.govt.nz. People can visit the website to get information on earthquakes, preparedness, and the ShakeOut drill in September.

“Ensuring that we are prepared will help us to get through any future earthquakes. I encourage all households to make an emergency plan, assemble a survival kit, and identify safe places within the home.”

The nationwide “Drop, Cover and Hold” earthquake drill will take place at 9:26 am on 26 September (9:26-26:9). New Zealand ShakeOut aims to have one million New Zealanders taking part.

[Media release from Hon Chris Tremain, Minister of Civil Defence]

Media contact: Jenna Raeburn 021 249 9769

NZTA: Crews take to the cliff-face at Rocks Road

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:46:41 +1300

NZ Transport Agency crews are taking to the cliff-face at Rocks Road on State Highway 6 to secure the cliffs for the safety of road users, following damage from storms last December.

NZTA regional operations manager says preparatory design work has now been completed, and crews are now carrying out stabilising work on the cliff face to enable the road below to be restored to its full width.

The work will make the cliff face safer and more resilient to weather damage.

Mr Owen says the work will involve drilling 125 rock bolts into the cliff face, and fixing them in place. Overall approximately one kilometre of high strength steel rods will be used to stabilise the cliff at various locations along the face. Platforms have been installed for crews to work from, and abseilers will also be in action removing loose material from the face.

“This is very precise, physically difficult work that will involve our crews drilling into the slope to install these rods, which will collectively hold the cliff-face together.”

Mr Owen says once this phase of work is complete, the shipping containers and most of the existing road cones and barriers will be removed, enabling Rocks Rd to be reinstated to two lanes and the existing cycleways reopened in late May, weather permitting.

Mr Owen says the NZTA was appreciative of the patience shown by motorists and especially cyclists while the NZTA worked to secure the cliffs.

“We’re conscious that cyclists in particular are affected every day by these restrictions, and we’re keen to get the road restored to full width, so that life can return to normal for cyclists as soon as it’s considered safe. That’s the key thing – safety – and we’re really grateful at the ongoing patience of road users as we work to make this route safer and more secure.”

The NZTA is currently preparing for a second phase of remedial work, which will include rockfall netting and providing the face with a ‘concrete overcoat’ to future-proof the cliff. The physical work for this next stage is expected to be completed later this year, however the work will not restrict the road width during the day and so effects on motorists and cyclists will be minimal.

The NZTA has awarded contract to Hiway Geotechnical to undertake the repairs.

Mayoral Disaster Fund Distributed

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:45:00 +1300

It has been decided that the Nelson Tasman Mayoral Fund set up to support those affected by the December Rain Event will be shared amongst two agencies at the centre of the necessary welfare action during and after the event.

A number of families were affected directly and relied on the immediate supported provided by two agencies in particular, the Salvation Army and the Foodbank group.

In recognition of the funds and materials used by these groups to perform their roles during the event, both Mayors, believed it was an appropriate use of the fund overseen by the Mayor of Nelson City, Aldo Miccio, and the Mayor of Tasman District, Richard Kempthorne.

“In making this decision we are able to acknowledge the role and support provided by the Salvation Army and Foodbank and return in some way the assistance they provided to those in need and to ensure these groups maintain such a capability for possible future events”, said Mr Miccio.

“In the heat of such an event accounting is not as important as responding to an emergency situation, however, when the event ends, the ability to be financially viable is.”

With the fund, the brainchild of, and supported by the Nelson Mail, we can go some way to ensuring they are around when we need them next.

“These contributions will hopefully go some way to building a sustainable future for these groups so when the need arises again they are in a position to help where they are needed most.”

“When a natural disaster hits a community we turn to groups like the ones we are recognising for support and to a degree we take them for granted until such an event occurs” added Richard Kempthorne. “With such a donation we can be assured of them being there when the need is most keenly felt.”

“It is a simple way of saying thank you whilst also saying we hope you are there next time.”

The Mayors, in making this decision, recognised the valuable role the Nelson Mail played in the establishment and support of the fund in the immediate aftermath of the event.

Severe Gales Expected Early Saturday In Nelson Tasman Region

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:06:05 +1300

The Nelson Tasman region is likely to feel the effects of the severe low pressure system currently crossing the Tasman sea.

Severe gales are expected with gusts of 150km/h possible between 3am and 10am Saturday with the rapidly moving front then expected to move away to the east.

These winds have the potential to be damaging with hazardous travelling conditions especially for high sided and towed vehicles and motorcycles.

Boat owners are advised to check moorings.

People should take care tomorrow and be aware of wind-blown debris and falling trees.

Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Management personnel will be monitoring the situation.

Severe Weather Warning

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:20:17 +1300

From 11am Wednesday (22/2) morning it has been forecast up to 250mm of rain to fall over 24 hours in the in Golden Bay Ranges with intensities of 25-35 mm/hr.

In the same period it has been forecast for the Richmond Ranges to receive a total of 150mm with intensities of 25-35 mm/hr.

While not high rainfall totals, the potential for the high intensities could cause some issues, especially in already affected areas. The moist northerly rain is most likely to effect the following catchments: Takaka, Riwaka, Motueka, Wairoa, and the Maitai.

The Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Management team and Tasman District Council hydrologists are monitoring the situation closely throughout the period.

FOR THE LATEST WEATHER AND FORECAST CHARTS PLEASE GO TO http://metservice.com

To view Rainfall and River levels throughout the region go to either;

http://www.tasman.govt.nz/environment/water/rivers/river-flow

or http://www.tasman.govt.nz/environment/water/rainfall

Community organised meeting

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:42:20 +1300

Nelson resident Catherine Callaghan is interested in organising a group of people to gather and share their knowledge and experiences about the December flood event.

She has organised a meeting:

Wednesday 29th February
7pm-8.30pm
Nick Smith’s Rooms: 544 Waimea Road, Annesbrook.

“An opportunity for people to gather and share their knowledge and experiences gained to date, so that we may be even wiser in making choices regarding EQC/Insurance etc, as the process of recovering and rebuilding continues

I would like this meeting to have both a formal and informal aspect and am happy to oversee this first get-together."
Catherine Callaghan
548 8046/027 323 2098

NZTA announces expansion to Rocks Road cliff overhaul

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:36:03 +1300

The NZTA has announced an expansion of its plans to strengthen the cliff face at Rocks Road following the unprecedented storm event late last year.

NZTA operations manager Mark Owen says that following further investigations, the NZTA has significantly expanded the programme of work planned to secure the cliff-face.

This will involve rock bolting (drilling steel columns into the cliff face to hold it together), around 400 square metres of netting, concrete sprayed onto the cliff face to prevent erosion, and drainage improvements so the cliff face is less prone to becoming waterlogged.

For full details read the full media release from the NZ Transport Agency Central Regional Office here.

Flood event update #52 – 27 January 2012

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:16:21 +1300

Water

Rabbit Island still has large areas of pond water, the water exceeds the recreational bathing water standards and is fenced to exclude the public.

After the original flood event, a shellfish gathering ban was put in place across much of Nelson Tasman region. The only restriction remaining in place on gathering shellfish is from Rangihaeata Head to Separation Pt (Golden Bay) and this expires on Tuesday 31 January.

Latest count of s124 Notices

Tasman District has seen 31 notices. Seven of these have been subsequently been removed.

Nelson has removed 50 s124 Notices; 52 out of an original approx 102 notices remain on affected properties (the approximation is due to the lack of original data during the flurry of activity immediately after the flood event).

EQC has made contact with all applicants as at the afternoon of Friday 27th.

Roads

Abel Tasman Drive Wainui Hill

Abel Tasman Drive at Wainui Hill is now open but drivers are requested to use with extreme caution and expect lengthy delays.

Kokorua Road

Kokorua Road is now open. Drivers are urged to use caution.

Nelson City road closures or limited access

Cable Bay Road - open to residents and essential services only, traffic lights in place
Iwa Road – open to one lane only for residents and essential services
Poynters Crescent – closed

Tasman region incl Golden Bay road closures or limited access

Aniseed Valley Road – open with speed restrictions and give way sections beyond the hill where the road is narrow and reduced to a single lane.
Totaranui Road – closed long term - Boat access only
Awaroa Road – closed long term - Boat access only
Abel Tasman Drive Wainui Hill - Open but expect lengthy delays
Pohara Valley Road – open for residents only
Haile Lane – Open to residents only
Matenga Road – Open to residents only
Falconer Road - Open to residents only
SH 60 open at Bird Hill – still single lane controlled by traffic lights, expect delays

Excerpt from statement by NTZA on status of Totaranui Road:

While Tasman District Council manages Totaranui Road, given its status as a special purpose road it is 100% funded by the NZTA. As such, the NZTA will be funding work to restore access to this area.

We're currently working closely with Tasman District Council to identify a solution for providing reliable public access, and this could involve restoring the existing route or other potential options.

We're looking at this as part of the overall recovery package for the Golden Bay area, which is being funded from the NZTA's Emergency Works fund. It's too early to say when decisions will be made as we're still in the process of weighing up the options.”

Works ongoing status

Scheduled for the week of 31 January:

Hodgson St - Footpath & road repairs
Eckington Tce - Various works
Teal Valley Rd -Slips and water table shaping
Todd Valley Rd - Culvert clearing
Aniseed Valley - Culverts clearing
South St - Pavement repairs
Whitby Rd - Footpath repair
Routine sign maintenance and pothole repairs continue

Nelson Tasman Recovery Group

The key priority is the delivery of the draft regional recovery group to the respective Councils early next week. The plan will set action items for each Council to include in the short term and in their respective Long Term Plans.

Flood Event Update 51: Cable Bay and Wainui Roads may be open but patience is required

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:05:33 +1300

As the holiday weekend approaches drivers are asked to exercise caution and be patient on the recently opened section of Abel Tasman Drive to Wainui and the road to Cable Bay.

These roads are still not fully restored and have traffic controls and/or heavy machinery on them leading to inevitable delays for drivers.

“We recognise that both of these are attractive destinations over the upcoming holiday weekends and ask people to recognise these roads were heavily affected by December’s rain event,” said Recovery Manager Michael Schruer.

“The Cable Bay Road still has traffic light controls due the single lane in many places. The area of road managed by the lights is long therefore the lights will not change for sometime and people need to be patient.

"There have been a number of reports where people have thought the lights are not working because the length of time between changes and have driven against the lights causing dangerous situations and further congestion.”

The road to Wainui is open, however as heavy machinery is in use, road users can expect significant delays. Please drive with extreme care.

Flood event update #50 - 25 January 2012

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:49:07 +1300

Community meetings

A community meeting is scheduled for Wainui Bay on 26 January at 5pm at Wainui Falls car park.

Water

Rabbit Island still has large areas of pond water, the water exceeds the recreational bathing water standards and is fenced to exclude the public.

After the original flood event, a shellfish gathering ban was put in place across much of Nelson Tasman region. The only restriction remaining in place on gathering shellfish is from Rangihaeata Head to Separation Pt (Golden Bay) and this expires on Tuesday 31 January.

Latest count of s124 Notices

A new s124 Notice was issued for a home in the Tasman District, bringing the total issued for the event to 31. Seven of these have been subsequently been removed.

Nelson has removed 45 s124 Notices; 57 out of an original approx 102 notices remain on affected properties (the approximation is due to the lack of original data during the flurry of activity immediately after the flood event).

Roads

Abel Tasman Drive Wainui Hill

Abel Tasman Drive at Wainui Hill underwent extensive investigation last week. Contractors are forecasting that it may be possible to open the road late this week.

Kokorua Road

Kokorua Road is now open. Drivers are urged to use caution.

Nelson City road closures or limited access

•   Cable Bay Road - open to residents and essential services only, traffic lights in place
•   Iwa Road – open to one lane only for residents and essential services
•   Poynters Crescent – closed

Tasman region incl Golden Bay road closures or limited access

•   Aniseed Valley Road – open with speed restrictions and give way sections beyond the hill where the road is narrow and reduced to a single lane.
•   Totaranui Road – closed long term - Boat access only

Excerpt from statement by NTZA on status of Totaranui Road:
"While Tasman District Council manages Totaranui Road, given its status as a special purpose road it is 100% funded by the NZTA. As such, the NZTA will be funding work to restore access to this area. We're currently working closely with Tasman District Council to identify a solution for providing reliable public access, and this could involve restoring the existing route or other potential options. We're looking at this as part of the overall recovery package for the Golden Bay area, which is being funded from the NZTA's Emergency Works fund. It's too early to say when decisions will be made as we're still in the process of weighing up the options.”

•   Awaroa Road – closed long term - Boat access only.
•   Abel Tasman Drive Wainui Hill - Open 1 lane only to residents and emergency services (Access permit required and closed from 9pm to 6am due to slip risk).
•   Pohara Valley Road – open for residents only.
•   Haile Lane – Open to residents only.
•   Matenga Road – Open to residents only.
•   Falconer Road - Open to residents only.
•   SH 60 open at Bird Hill – still single lane controlled by traffic lights, expect delays

Works ongoing status for Nelson City

Scheduled for the week of 23 January

Maori Pa Road – slip clearing and culvert clearing

Kokorua Road – tree removal

Teal Valley Road – slips and water table shaping

Todd Valley Road – culvert clearing

Routine sign maintenance and pothole repairs continue

Nelson Tasman Recovery Group

The key priority for the regional recovery group is to write the regional recovery action plan. The plan will set action items for each Council to include in the short term and in their respective Long Term Plans.

Flood event update #49 – 20 January 2012

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:14:25 +1300

Community meetings

Nelson and Richmond area residents who were affected by the December flood event are invited to a community meeting on Wednesday 25 January at 7.30pm at Saxton Cricket/Athletics Pavilion. Members of the Nelson Tasman Recovery Office and an EQC representative will be there to provide an update on the recovery effort and to talk with residents about their questions and concerns.

A community meeting is scheduled for Wainui Bay on 26 January at 5pm.

Latest count of s124 Notices

A new s124 Notice was issued for a dwelling in Golden Bay, bringing the total issued for the event to 30 for the Tasman district, seven of which have been subsequently been removed.

Nelson has removed 29 s124 Notices; 73 out of an original approx 102 notices remain on affected properties (the approximation is due to the lack of original data during the flurry of activity immediately after the flood event).

Water

Roads

Aniseed Valley Road

Aniseed Valley Road is now open. There are speed restrictions and give way sections beyond the hill where the road is narrow and reduced to a single lane. Residents are urged to drive with caution.

Cable Bay Road

Cable Bay Road beyond Maori Pa Road is now open 24 hours/7 days to residents and essential services only. The road is one lane only at some points, and construction work is ongoing which may cause delays to drivers. Drivers may see workers and 'road closed' signage, but when workers see vehicles waiting, they will try to flag them through as quickly as possible.

Iwa Road

Iwa Road now has one lane open.

Nelson City road closures or limited access

Cable bay Road - open to residents and essential services only, traffic lights in place
Iwa Road – open to one lane only for residents and essential services
Kokorua Road - closed
Poynters Crescent – closed

Golden Bay road closures or limited access

Totaranui Road – closed long term - Boat access only
Awaroa Road – closed long term - Boat access only.
Abel Tasman Drive Wainui Hill - Open 1 lane only to residents and emergency services (Access permit required and closed from 9pm to 6am due to slip risk).
Pohara Valley Road – open for residents only.
Haile Lane – Open to residents only.
Matenga Road – Open to residents only.
Falconer Road - Open to residents only.
SH 60 open at Bird Hill – still single lane and expect delays

Works ongoing status for Nelson City

Scheduled for the week of 16 January

Iwa Road – installation of permanent concrete barriers

Maori Pa Road – slip clearing and culvert clearing

Kokoroa Road – flood damage repair

Cable Bay Road – water table shaping

Routine sign maintenance and pothole repairs continue

Nelson Tasman Recovery Group

Update to Cable Bay Drive access

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:19:01 +1300

Cable Bay Drive beyond Maori Pa Road is now open 24 hours/7 days to residents and essential services only. The road is one lane only at some points, and construction work is ongoing which may cause delays to drivers. Drivers may see workers and 'road closed' signage, but when workers see vehicles waiting, they will try to flag them through as quickly as possible. Thanks for your patience.

Flood event update 48 - 17 January 2012

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:30:30 +1300

EQC

EQC visits to properties are nearly complete: 632 properties have been inspected with 129 in Nelson and 33 in Tasman still to inspect. EQC expects all claims will initially be responded to by the end of January with the associated geotech visits completed in Feb/March.

EQC are sharing their geotechnical information with both Councils to enable them to take appropriate action regarding s124 Notices. In some instances, the result of inspections mean Councils are able to remove the s124 Notices.

As soon as the EQC staff inform each Council about inspection results, Councils are acting as quickly as possible to remove the s124 Notices to enable families to return to their homes. Although EQC staff are visiting many properties each day, Councils are not always immediately given the inspection results, so we ask residents to please be patient. Councils will act as quickly as they can once the information is received.

If you are expecting a visit and have not received one please call EQC on 0800 326 243.

Latest count of s124 Notices

Nelson: 91 out of an original approx 102 notices remain on affected properties (the approximation is due to the lack of original data during the flurry of activity immediately after the flood event).

Tasman: 22 out of an original 29 notices remain on affected properties.

Community meetings

Members of the Nelson Tasman Recovery Office visited Pohara and Wainui Bay residents last Thursday (12 January). Recovery Manager Michael Schruer and Emergency Management Manager Roger Ball toured the area with a group of residents and other recovery staff. The meetings were well attended and the atmosphere was constructive and positive.

Two further meetings are scheduled for Golden Bay: this evening at 5pm in Pohara and in Wainui Bay on 26 January at 5pm.

A community meeting is being planned for Nelson and Richmond area residents for next week.

The Acting Recovery Manager Peter Thomson will meet with Tiakina Te Taiao (Iwi) on 19 January to update them on the flood event that started 14 December and the current activities of the Nelson Tasman Recovery Office.

Water

Four dwellings are still without water in the Pohara Valley area. Pohara Valley residents are still on a non-potable and potentially intermittent supply due to quality of supply in the catchment. The water is on but is variable quality due to the water quality at the intake. Temporary water solutions for private dwellings, such as water tanks, are already setup in the region and at the Pohara camp.

The shellfish collection ban is still in place in Pohara.

Mayoral Relief Fund

The Mayoral Relief Fund has received donations to date totalling nearly $8,000.

Roads

Rocklands Road, Bird Road and Rameka Creek Road are now fully open, but care is required.

Aniseed Valley Road

Aniseed Valley Road is forecast to open some time on Wednesday 18 January. The road will be down to one lane in two sections, both of which will be signed with priority give way control and speed restrictions. The road has been closed to all except residents between Haycock Road and the top of the hill. Material has continued to fall from the top of the hill, with larger, unstable blocks currently being removed. An alternative access via Lee Valley and Mead Rd (private forestry road) is open only to residents currently.

Cable Bay Drive

Cable Bay Drive beyond Maori Pa Road is now open 24 hours/7 days with traffic lights in place to manage traffic. The road is one lane only at some points, and construction work is ongoing which may cause delays to drivers.

Abel Tasman Drive Wainui Hill

Access beyond Tata Beach remains restricted on a passport basis for local residents during daylight hours only. Today Tasman District Council started a geotech review of the slips on the hill to determine what needs to be undertaken to be able to open the road to general access. McShane Road (beyond the Wainui Hill) has reopened to residents.

Nelson City road closures or limited access

Cable Bay Road (open to residents only, traffic lights in place)
Iwa Road
Kokorua Road
Poynters Crescent

Waimea road closures or limited access

Aniseed Valley Road – Closed but alternative access via Lee Valley and Mead Rd (private forestry road) is open.

Golden Bay road closures or limited access

Totaranui Road – closed long term - Boat access only
Awaroa Road – closed long term - Boat access only.
Abel Tasman Drive Wainui Hill - Open 1 lane only to residents and emergency services (Access permit required and closed from 9pm to 6am due to slip risk).
Pohara Valley Road – open for residents only.
Haile Lane – Open to residents only.
Matenga Road – Open to residents only.
Falconer Road - Open to residents only.
SH 60 open at Bird Hill – still single lane and expect delays

Works ongoing status for Nelson City

Scheduled for the week of 16 January
Iwa Road – installation of permanent concrete barriers
Maori Pa Road – slip clearing and culvert clearing
Kokoroa Road – flood damage repair
Arrow Street – slip clearing
Atawhai Dr/Brooklands – slip clearing
Moncrief Avenue – slip clearing
St Lawrence Street – slip clearing
Murphy Street – slip clearing
Orsman Street – slip clearing
Sunny Bank Rise – slip clearing

Routine sign maintenance and pothole repairs continue

Nelson Tasman Recovery Group

The key priority for the regional recovery group is to write the regional recovery action plan for review by both Councils within the next several weeks. The plan will set action items for each Council to include in the short term and in their respective Long Term Plans.

Aniseed Valley Road Remains Closed to the General Public

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:47:26 +1300

Aniseed Valley Road remains closed to the general public with residents having access to their homes through Mead Road.

“Mead Road is a private road and the owners have been very accommodating in allowing access until essential engineering works are completed on Aniseed Valley Road,” said Tasman District Council’s Transportation Manager Gary Clark.

While the Aniseed Valley is known for some of the best river swimming and parks in the Tasman District, the only people that should be using Mead Road are residents and the trucks from the company who owns the road.

The current alternative access to houses up the valley is not ideal for general traffic and should not be viewed as a general access route and ideally kept clear.

“It is hoped this situation is short term and that people will have access to the river and the adjoining parks very shortly.”

“Until the Valley Road is restored people are asked to refrain from using the road unless they are residents or are representatives of the owners of the road itself,”concluded Mr Clark.

Severe Weather Warning

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:01:18 +1300

Northwest gales and a burst of heavy rain for the northwest of the South Island

In the 24 hours from midnight Thursday to midnight Friday 100mm of rain is expected, particularly west of Motueka. The bulk of the rain should fall in a northwest flow, and occur from the northwest ranges southwards, with maximum intensities of 15mm per hour or so Friday evening.

However, in Golden Bay, there may be a burst of 30-40mm Thursday evening, with intensities briefly up to 15-20mm per hour.

A depression is expected to deepen rapidly in the eastern Tasman Sea later today, then cross the South Island during Friday. A period of severe gale northerlies is expected to affect the areas of Tasman and Nelson overnight Thursday to Friday. These winds have the potential to cause damage to trees and powerlines, and make driving very hazardous.

The Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Management office will be staffed and monitoring the situation throughout this period.

Flood Update 47 1710hrs 11 January 2012

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:10:56 +1300

EQC and Section 124 Update

As the recovery from the December rain events continues the EQC have been working through the 750 claims they have received.

Recovery Manager Michael Schruer said the EQC’s geotechnical engineers have started inspecting affected properties.

“While there is still a fair amount of work to do throughout the region there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel for many individual homeowners.”

The EQC’s geotechnical engineers will be releasing their reports to the respective Councils of the inspections they have carried out on private properties with the wording “the geotechnical risk is no worse than before the flood event of 14 December”. This wording will allow the Councils to consider removal of S124 notices if they were issued solely for geotechnical reasons.

“This is a very important point we have to stress to property owners. A number of S124 notices have been issued for building safety and insanitary conditions that have been caused by land movement these will have to be rechecked by the Councils’ building inspectors before the building’s status is finalised.”

“If, however, there are no additional reasons for the S124 notice other than land movement in the vicinity a simple phone call could be the all it takes to gain entry to the property on a permanent basis”, said Mr Schruer

Only the Tasman District and Nelson City Councils’ building consent units can approve the removal of the S124 notice once the property has been considered no longer dangerous or insanitary. This means in most cases property owners covered by EQC will not require an additional geotechnical report for the Councils to remove the S124 notice.

In some cases of S124s being issued for reasons other than geotechnical, each Councils’ building units have the option to issue a notice to fix with reasonably tight timeframes for remediation allowing the S124 to be removed.

The removal of a S124 notice does negate the need for the property owner and /or their insurance company to retain the services of a geotechnical engineers to design or undertake any remedial work.

In the first instance property owners who have received a geotechnical report from EQC should ring their respective Councils.

Flood Update 46 1500hrs 4 January 2012

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:55:52 +1300

The sun may be shining and people flocking to the beaches, but work is continuing on the recovery of Nelson Tasman following the flood event which damaged the region only weeks ago.

Recovery Manager Michael Schruer says the Nelson City Council is now open to the public and appointments can be made for controlled urgent access to those homes which had previously had a red or yellow sticker.

Prior to the New Year around 120 homes in Nelson had their stickers replaced with a Building Notice Number 124, which means the property cannot be occupied due to safety concerns. The notices also include specific information on what is required to restore the safety of the property.

As from today those homeowners can make an appointment by phoning Nelson City Council on 546 0200 to access their homes for emergency/urgent matters ONLY from 8am to 5pm. If homeowners are seeking clothing, they can access a grant from WINZ.

Home owners are also reminded that a Geotechnical engineer must be engaged to oversee the remediation of the property and an application must be made to Council before any work is done.

The application, which needs Council approval, must include the scope of the work to be done, by whom and other details to ensure appropriate personnel are involved.

If they have not already done so, homeowners are urged to contact their Insurance Company before employing a Geotechnical engineer.

Currently the Slip database, which records details of slips and retaining wall damage throughout Nelson city is being updated and reviewed.

Council staff are also prioritising work to be completed on the city’s infrastructure.

[RAD 1216082]

Flood Event Update 45 1415hrs Saturday 31 December 2011

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:11:36 +1300

Updated 1650 hrs Saturday 31 December 2011

Moana Avenue is now open.

Rocks Rd

Following a geotechnical assessment and clearing of debris, Civil Defence expect Rocks Road (SH6) in Nelson to reopen on both lanes by 1800hrs (6pm) tonight. The closure due to a slip was between Richardson St and Bisley Avenue.

Cyclists

For their own safety cyclists are urged to use an alternate route until further notice due to ongoing traffic congestion.

Other Nelson Roads

Iwa Road – closed until further notice

Cable Bay – single lane available for residents only under escort by contractors, 8am, 10am, 2pm and 5:30pm.

Kokorua Road – closed until further notice

Aniseed Valley – still closed to vehicle, pedestrian and cycle access until inspected by experts after which it may be opened to pedestrians and cyclist only but will remain closed to vehicles until further notice.

Further information

Given the improving situation, the operational and media lead for flooding has been handed back to the Nelson Tasman Recovery Manager, Michael Schruer.