A state of emergency remains in place in the Timaru district for the Pleasant Point-Temuka ward, focused on a section of riverbank that has been damaged near Mill Rd in the Kerrytown area.
The Opihi River is flowing high after this week’s rain and is dropping very slowly.
A small section of stopbank above the Mill Road Hut settlement on the Opihi River has some erosion damage and is at risk of failing.
Environment Canterbury yesterday confirmed the stopbank was still holding.
Timaru deputy mayor Steve Wills said the main concern remained the safety and wellbeing of residents because of the scouring of the stopbank upstream from the Mill Road Hut settlement.
All affected residents had been contacted and supported to evacuate and were staying with family or friends in the area.
The decision to call a state of emergency emerged late on Wednesday evening after a very small number of people who had not left on the early advice of Civil Defence and police posed an increased threat to life.
- In Central Otago, the Central Otago District Council said all roading damage was relatively minor, except for St Bathans Downs Rd where there was significant damage after the river there broke its banks and material was washed away.
A spokesman said there was scouring on some roads across the district.
Further inspection and repair would be needed once the floodwaters receded.
Some roads would remain closed until they could be assessed.
It was too soon to estimate flood damage repair costs, the spokesman said.
