Latest news with #MarlboroughEmergencyManagement
Scoop
04-07-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
Marlborough Region Transitions To Recovery
Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor has given notice that Marlborough will begin a local transition period due to the district-wide impacts from severe weather in the region over the past week. The Notice of Local Transition period, under Section 94B of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, took effect at 3.30pm today and ends on 1 August unless it is extended or ends before then. Mayor Taylor extended her thanks to all the agencies, community groups and volunteers who had supported the Marlborough Emergency Management response and made special note of the advance warning given by Council's hydrology team of the potential impacts of the weather event. Marlborough Emergency Management Group Manager and duty controller Matt Kerr said he had recommended the transition period due to record groundwater levels still affecting the region following the recent weather event and with impacts across the region still 'dynamic and emerging.' 'There is still a risk of ongoing impacts and consequences which may require us to manage, coordinate or direct recovery activities so this transition period is important to facilitate a timely and effective recovery from this event,' Mr Kerr said. Group Recovery Manager Dean Heiford will now assume responsibility for the local transition period.
Scoop
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
Weather Watch Continues But Rainfall Lower Than Expected
With rainfall lower than forecast, the Marlborough region appears to have escaped any major storm related impacts today, which was great news for the sodden region, Marlborough Emergency Management Incident Controller Chris Faulls said. 'We remain vigilant and prepared should there be any further impacts,' Mr Faulls said. 'This rain was predicted to hit us harder than what has eventuated but that is a good result for us.' A slip on Northbank Road is being assessed and a decision will be made by Marlborough Roads engineers tomorrow morning whether the road can be opened temporarily to allow residents access. There are 97 properties and about 250 people living beyond the slip site. The Ministry for Primary Industries and Rural Support Trust are working with landowners and farmers to assess impacts. Farmers and growers who require support are encouraged to contact the Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254. Marlborough Emergency Management will continue to monitor the situation today. The Orange Heavy Rain Warning is in place until 7pm. Further updates will be provided as information comes to hand. Unless the situation changes, this will be the last update for today. For preparedness advice go to: If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111.
Scoop
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
Avoid All Non-Essential Travel Today
People are advised to avoid all non-essential travel today as rain hits the Marlborough region. Marlborough Emergency Management is monitoring the situation on the region's roads with several areas of concern. Northbank Road is currently closed with an unstable slip site which is being monitored by geotechnical engineers. The site was closed from 6pm last night and will remain so until it is safe to reopen. Residents along Northbank Road in the Top Valley area should also be aware of the potential for slips and a rise in river levels. Heavy rain is currently falling in Rai Valley. From Pelorus Bridge to Canvastown there is a risk of flooding possibly closing SH6. If issues arise in Pelorus, we may see the closure of Daltons Bridge and Te Hoiere Roads. In Port Underwood, there are already multiple slips and rockfalls from Oyster Bay to Tumbledown Bay with further risk of slips for the Whatamango Bay area. Queen Charlotte Drive also has a risk of slips and localised flooding with Moenui in particular being monitored. Kenepuru Road remains open at present but four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended and trucks can travel by permit only. In Wairau Valley there is pressure on the temporary road structure at Anderson Floodway and Centre Valley Bridge which could result in possible closures. Crew are monitoring the situation. All fords in the region should be approached with caution and are at risk of flooding. In the Awatere Valley access to Molesworth Station is limited to four wheel drive essential travel only. Further updates will be provided as information comes to hand. For preparedness advice go to: If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111. For more information on floodwater and contamination go to: Floods and health To keep up to date with the latest information and alerts sign up to Antenno. All you need to do is install the app and save the specific addresses of places you care about such as your home, work, rental property or school. Antenno will notify you when something relevant to your chosen place(s) arises. Go to:
Scoop
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
Prepare For Heavy Rainfall Across Marlborough Today
With a Heavy Rain Warning in place and an already saturated region, Marlborough residents are urged to prepare for heavy rain today with potential impacts for some communities. All of Marlborough is likely to be affected by rainfall today, with northern Marlborough under an Orange Rain Warning. The ground is already saturated - it won't take much rainfall to bring localised flooding. People are urged to take precautions - limit your travel, look out for surface flooding and slips; be aware that streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Marlborough Emergency Management is activated and ready to respond as required. Local agencies, community groups and rural networks are supporting this response. Council hydrologists are not expecting the Wairau River to get as high as last week. Based on the forecast models the maximum expected is 3,000 cumecs. • Picton and Waikawa: Expect high-intensity rainfall from noon to late afternoon today, stream flows will increase rapidly. • Wairau Valley: potentially high stream flows in this area • Rai and Pelorus rivers: All weather models indicate a minor flood, though less severe than last week's event.
Otago Daily Times
27-06-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
State of emergency continues in part of South Island
By Samantha Gee of RNZ Some residents in Spring Creek, north of Blenheim, were told to evacuate their homes by 9am Friday as heavy rain threatens the Marlborough region. Emergency services are taking a precautionary approach due to the risk posed by cracks in stopbanks protecting the township from the Wairau River. Mayor Nadine Taylor declared a local state of emergency for part of Marlborough at 5pm on Thursday, to facilitate the precautionary evacuation of Spring Creek and in case of any other flooding issues. Affected properties include those on Dodson, Hathaway and March streets, and part of Ferry Road. An Orange Heavy Rain Warning for Marlborough has been in place since 9am Wednesday and runs until 6pm Friday. Up to 150 to 250mm of rain is forecast, with peak rates of 20 to 30mm/h or more expected late Thursday, especially in the ranges. Marlborough Emergency Management Controller Richard MacNamara said the system could stall and bring further rainfall on Friday. "With the Wairau River stop bank at Spring Creek in a compromised state, we are taking the precaution of advising residents of Spring Creek township to plan to evacuate their homes from 6am Friday, tomorrow morning," MacNamara said. "They can leave this evening if they wish but the key time when the river may be running high is from early tomorrow morning." Residents were asked to stay with family or friends - have a grab bag ready and take pets and prescription medications with them. He said all of Marlborough's emergency and lifelines agencies and response teams were ready to go. Further updates will be provided, primarily through Marlborough District Council's Facebook page and the Antenno alerting app. A $8.7 million programme to repair the stopbanks was agreed with the community last May, which includes $3.6m government funding. The stopbank experienced lateral spread during the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, which was masked by road seal on Peninsula Road, which runs along the top of the stopbank. In July 2021, flooding in the Wairau River further weakened it and emphasised the need for an upgrade to provide one in a 100-year flood protection. The council is working on the final design for the repairs and plan to release it in August. The groundwork will commence in November, with rock and materials stockpiled near the site, temporary infrastructure built, and other preparations made, with construction to begin in November 2026. Meanwhile, other areas across the South Island continue to be lashed by severe weather. The Tasman District Council is expecting rivers across the region to be running at high levels, warning residents to prepare for flooding. Heavy rain, thunderstorms, gales and possible flooding is forecast for much of the South Island. The Tasman District council said uncertainty about the forecast and possible thunderstorms meant people should plan for flooding. Council hydrologists said 75 to 140mm of rain had already fallen in the Tasman ranges in the last 12 hours. The Tākaka River and its tributaries and the Aorere River had peaked or were about to peak, all below annual flood flows. High tide coincided with the Aorere River's peak flow, so people could expect road and surface flooding in Ferntown. Another 200 to 300mm of rain was expected in Golden Bay over the next 26 hours, along with possible thunderstorms and localised flooding. River's in the region's east including the Wakapuaka, Maitai, Wairoa/Waimea and upper Motueka were also expected to reach annual flood flows. Between 15 to 45mm of rain had already been recorded across the eastern ranges, with a further 150 to 250mm expected. The council said there was a good chance the wet weather could cause slips, particularly on State Highway 60 over the Tākaka Hill and State Highway 6 between Nelson and Marlborough. MetService severe weather warnings cover most parts of the island, with orange rain warnings starting in the early hours of Thursday for the Tasman District northwest of Motueka, Buller, Nelson and Marlborough, excluding the Sounds. Haast Pass is closed between Haast and Makarora because of a slip. MetService meterologist Heather Keats said there was "pretty decent rainfall and strong winds come through the South Island overnight as expected". Canterbury High Country experienced "massive" 250km/h wind gusts. "But that's a very elevated site that's quite exposed." Other sites saw 90km/h gusts while some areas also had 10mm to 20mm of rain hourly. "At the moment everything's playing out as we expected as that really active front does start to track over the South Island." Environment Canterbury issued a riverbed alert for five alpine rivers in the region after heavy rain overnight. The regional council said flows were increasing in upper parts of the Rangitata, Rakaia, Waimakariri, Hurunui and Waiau-uha rivers. The focus would then shift to central New Zealand with strong wind watches in place for Wellington and rain watches for Taranaki from tomorrow. It would continue north to affect the whole of the North Island, Keats said. The active rain band affecting the West Coast was expected to stall over the Tasman/Nelson area and then affect Wellington and Taranaki. Wellington region has been upgraded to orange wind warning. MetService said Mount Kaukau recorded wind speeds of up to 130km while winds around the Wellington Airport and Kelburn were closer to the hundred mark. Wellington and Porirua councils said they were unaware of the wind causing any damage - Fire and Emergency were also yet to receive any callouts. Flights and the Cook Strait ferries are also still running. With the Wairau River closely watched, an update is expected by Thursday afternoon for Spring Creek residents once the latest forecasts are reviewed. The weather system had the potential to stall, delivering additional rainfall on Friday, leading to a more significant weather event, the council and Marlborough Emergency Management said in a statement on Wednesday. An update would be issued by the middle of Thursday afternoon for Spring Creek township residents on the potential impact on the Wairau River, once the latest forecasts had been assessed, the council said. Heavy rain warnings in place for the headwaters of the Canterbury and Otago lakes and rivers, the ranges of the Westland district and Fiordland north of Doubtful Sound have been lifted. Intense rain led to flash flooding in Nelson last month, which saw mayor Nick Smith renew his call for a rain radar. With school holidays looming, Keats said: "Sunday looks amazing" while ski fields would benefit from fresh snowfalls over the next few days.
