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At least $1.7 million of damage has been caused to roading infrastructure alone by the unprecedented flood event on the West Coast last week.
Westland District Council district assets group manager David Inwood said on Tuesday that figure was expected to climb as local bridges and roads were washed out in the Styx Valley and Milltown, including the big concrete bridge across the Arahura River at Milltown.
Floodwaters in the lower Arahura Valley scoured out the road on the south bank, including properties at Humphries.
Scenic Dorothy Falls was inundated with metres of gravel at Geologists Creek.
Over a dozen fresh slips can be seen around Lake Kaniere, and at Kaniere Forks riverside properties have lost metres of land and suffered damage to property.
Mr Inwood said work crews had been putting in long hours to restore access to affected areas as quickly as possible.
Reinstating the Milltown bridge was a priority so Trustpower could repair damage to its weirs and tunnels in the Wainihinihi area, which had been blocked by landslides.
Trustpower said yesterday some of its hydro-generation infrastructure had been significantly damaged by the flooding last week.
"Due to damaged bridges and washed out roads, we are still in the process of inspecting our assets and assessing the damage. We should be able to provide more detailed assessments by next week.
"The damage to our assets doesn't have any impact on the wider electricity network."
The bridge also serves the West Coast Wilderness Trail which is currently closed between Lake Kaniere and Kawhaka until further notice.
Mr Inwood said the widespread devastation to infrastructure was the worst that council staff could recall.
Meanwhile, in Hokitika township re-scoping of stormwater improvement works was being carried out currently following the flooding of homes in low-lying areas including Livingstone, Hoffman, Weld and Jollie streets.
Some residents remain displaced due to flooding, while others have lost land and entire buildings.
Kaniere Forks resident Richard Lockhart said the Kaniere River had completely wiped out a lean-to workshop area behind his house.
"It eroded about 10m of land, leaving a sheer drop down to the river. Three steps from my workshop door and you're down a bank and into the river," Mr Lockhart said yesterday.
Tools and other belongings had been washed away, along with long established vegetation.
In 111 years the property had never flooded, he had been told.
His neighbours also lost land and had not been able to return home since the flood.
An occupant, who did not want to be named, said they evacuated on Wednesday morning after they woke to their entire backyard gone.
There is now a steep drop to the river about 2m from the back door. More of the bank had since crumbled into the river.
They would not be returning until the property was made safe and reinforced following the ordeal.
"It was terrifying, I've never been through anything like that before. I could hear boulders coming down the river that sounded like an earthquake all night."
The West Coast Regional Council has started rock protection works in the river.
"The regional council have been of great assistance so far and we are hoping to come to arrangement as soon as possible so it is safe for me and the kids to return."
Further along the Lake Kaniere Road, Fletch Jepson, from Hurunui Jacks accommodation, said they lost an entire "glamping" tent while a second, new tent had 600mm of floodwaters through it.
Mr Jepson said the tent had been built about 1m higher and had only just been plumbed. Neither tents were occupied by guests at the time.
An outside bath surrounded by heavy sleepers was also picked up and moved 20m by the raging river.
The 24-hour deluge, recorded at over 1000mm in some backcountry areas, also brought down slips at Lake Kaniere.
Lake resident Sue Hustwick said at least a dozen slips, mostly on Mount Tuhua could be seen. Some of the new slips were visible from Hokitika.
"They've come from a great height."
The slips had blown out the creeks below, smothering bridges or their approaches in thick gravel.
The scenic drive from Hans Bay through to Kokatahi is expected to be closed for a month while repairs are made.
- By Janna Sherman of the Hokitika Guardian