Latest news with #MarlboroughDistrict
RNZ News
27-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Weather: Marlborough evacuees irked by lack of flood protection action
By Kira Carrington , Local Democracy Reporter The entrance to Spring Creek School was under water. Photo: LDR/Kira Carrington A Spring Creek couple evacuated from their home due to Friday's flooding say they're "pissed off" with the Marlborough District Council's lack of action around flood protection work. Residents from certain Spring Creek streets were asked to evacuate on Friday morning as a precaution, as the Marlborough region was battered by rain overnight Thursday . There was 245mm received at Rai Falls and other areas around the district receiving more than 100mm. On Friday morning, Marlborough Emergency Management controller Richard MacNamara said there was uncertainty around how long the heavy rain would last. "The modelling shows some lessening of impact but with the stop bank in Spring Creek being compromised we will be proceeding with plans for people in the affected streets to be evacuated by 9am," MacNamara said in a council-issued statement. "It's not only the level of flood waters we are considering but the unseen damage within that stop bank. We have to make proactive decisions - it's about caring for our community and preventing possible harm." The affected properties were in Dodson, Hathaway, and March streets, as well as the section of Ferry Rd from the intersection with March St towards the river as well as residential properties on Gouland Road north of March St. Hathaway St resident Susan Robertson said she was "thoroughly pissed off with the council". "How many years have they known about this?," she said of the stopbank issue. The Spring Creek stopbank experienced lateral spread in the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake and was further damaged in the July 2021 Wairau flood. In January 2023, the repair project was reprioritised and funding was secured through the Long-Term Plan process. A $8.7M construction programme was agreed with the community in May 2024, with groundwork expected to start in November this year before construction was carried out in November 2026, MDC said. But this was too long a wait, Robertson said. "It's not good enough. If a councillor lived down here, the mayor lived out here, it would be done. "They don't give us stuff. All they care about is beautifying Picton and central Blenheim. That's all they care about. They don't give a stuff about us." Marlborough Emergency Management began door knocking at affected properties in Spring Creek on Thursday night and continued that work on Friday morning. There was also a police and NZ Army presence in the township on Friday, as a number of streets were under water and the Wairau River was in flood. A Civil Defence Centre providing community support and information was opened at Stadium 2000 in Blenheim from 9am and hot drinks and kai were being offered at Tuamātene Marae. Ready to help at the stadium, from left, public health medicine specialist Dr Kat McHale, health protection officer Frances Knight, and public health co-ordinator Paula Kole. Photo: LDR 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." A council spokesperson said in the past, Spring Creek residents tended to evacuate to the homes of friends and family, so they were not expecting large numbers of people, and the evacuation centre was "just in case". In its statement, the council asked those evacuating to take their pets with them, ideally in carry cages and or on leads to a safe place. Defence Force personnel in Spring Creek. Photo: LDR/Kira Carrington Meanwhile, the heavy rain has seen considerable surface flooding throughout the region - including State Highway 6 at Havelock, State Highway 63 in the Wairau Valley, and State Highway 1 near Koromiko, the council said. Road users were advised to avoid travel if possible but they need to drive do so with caution and to the conditions. SH63 was closed from Anglesea St through to St Arnaud due to multiple areas of flooding. There is flooding on SH1 near Para Rd. There has been a truck crash on SH1 near Ward, the road is down to one lane. There are trees down on Queen Charlotte Drive between Ngakuta and Governors Bay and the road is down to one lane, the council said. Marlborough Roads crew were out across the network inspecting flood areas this morning. Drivers were advised to prepare for road hazards and the possibility of road closures. With stormwater systems running at capacity, the council also advised people not to go near any flood waters in the region due to risk of contamination. People should also stay off stop banks in the area, particularly in vehicles, as this can compromise their effectiveness, the council said. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Heavy rain in Marlborough could reach warning level
Photo: Unsplash / Erik Witsoe Marlborough District Council is closely monitoring the weather forecast in case a front brings more rain than expected. MetService has extended its heavy rain watch to include all of Marlborough from 9am Thursday to 6pm Friday. The forecast was for periods of heavy rain with amounts that could approach or exceed warning criteria, particularly about the Richmond and Bryant ranges, with a high chance it would be upgraded to a heavy rain warning. There was also a strong wind watch in place for the region, with north to northwest winds expected to approach severe gale in exposed places. A council spokesperson said the forecast remained uncertain. "The weather system does have the potential to stall and deliver additional rainfall on Friday, which could lead to a more significant weather event. Marlborough Emergency Management and council are therefore taking a cautious approach and monitoring the situation closely," they said. There is a precautionary evacuation trigger level of 4000 cumecs and rising for Spring Creek north of Blenheim because of the cracked stopbanks that protect the township from the Wairau River. Residents could expect an update by mid-Thursday afternoon about the predicted river flows once the latest forecasts were assessed, the council said. People were encouraged to prepare for heavy rain by clearing drains and gutters on their properties. The rain could cause surface flooding, slips and difficult driving conditions, and cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. People were encouraged to avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Storm-damaged Marlborough road repairs expected to come in under budget
The Ronga Road culvert on the road to French Pass, one of the many works completed as part of the Marlborough Roads Recovery programme. Photo: Supplied / Marlborough District Council More than half the roads across Marlborough damaged by storms in 2021 in recent years have been fixed at a cost of $134 million, with the total repair work expected to come in under budget. Heavy rain and flooding in 2021 damaged parts of Queen Charlotte Drive and Kenepuru Road along with roads in Northbank, Waihopai Valley and the Awatere Valley. The following year, a second storm doubled the damage, affecting 670 kilometres of road across the region. Kenepuru Road was closed to non-residents for more than two years after the storms, with the first section re-opening to the public in in September . Marlborough Roads transport recovery manager Steve Murrin said the storms resulted in 5649 faults on the roading network and more than half (3843) have been repaired. Murrin said there were 73 projects across the network currently under construction, with $149m of work still to be done. The majority of the repair work is being funded by Waka Kotahi NZTA. The Marlborough District Council made an application to the NZTA board for $141.4m, which the board agreed to fund 71 percent of, or $100.4m . It is hoped the construction sites on Queen Charlotte Drive and Picton/Port Underwood will be finished by the end of this year, French Pass by the middle of next year and Kenepuru by the end of 2027. Mayor Nadine Taylor said the quality of roads being built was impressive and had "exceeded expectations". "Bringing the programme in early will be a relief to residents and means they're seeing delivery of these new roads more quickly and putting up with a lot less disruption, which is incredibly valuable." The Marlborough Roads Recovery Team is a joint venture between NZTA, Marlborough Roads, Fulton Hogan and HEB Construction. It was set up in August 2021 following the July storm to repair and restore the network. It is one of the largest roading recovery projects in the country. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
