Torrential rain in the Bay sparks call to conserve water

The torrential rain which has hammered the Western Bay for almost a week continued over the weekend forcing the rescue of 200 festival-goers and sparking a call for Waihi residents to conserve water because of the amount of sediment washed into the water supply.

But MetService forecaster April Clark said the worst was over with fine weather on the way.

Between midnight Friday and 6pm yesterday another 43mm was dumped on Tauranga with 60mm on Waihi and Whangamata.

Metservice figures show that since Tuesday 188.2mm of rain had doused Tauranga while 413.6mm fell at the Golden Valley weather station between Waihi and Whangamata.

Hauraki district Civil Defence controller Steve Fabish said communities hit earlier in the week were getting into clean-up mode but Waihi residents had been asked to conserve water because the local water treatment plant was working "overtime" to clean it.

"It's exactly the same issue as what's happening in Auckland," Mr Fabish said.

Heavy rain washed sediment into the water supply rivers and the treatment plant could not remove the heavy, solid sediment quickly enough, he said.

"We're asking residents to conserve water until the water clarity gets better and treatment plants can up their volume."

Ms Clark said the heaviest amount of rain over the weekend fell in Tauranga at 3am on Saturday, with 10mm in just one hour.

In Whangamata and Waihi the heaviest spell saw 11mm fall between 10am and 11am yesterday.

Tauranga City Council spokesman Marcel Currin said surface flooding was reported on Friday night at Te Ngaio St, 17th Ave, 11th Ave, Cameron Rd and Grenada Rd.

On Saturday surface flooding was reported on Devon St, Marjorie Lane, Hynds Rd, Cameron Rd and Kiwi St.

Surface flooding on Maleme St forced the temporary closure of the transfer station to private vehicles for a few hours though contractor trucks could still get in.

At 1am on Sunday surface flooding was also reported on Hewletts Rd.

"Overall Tauranga city got off lightly, though back up arborists were on standby they only received a few calls about minor debris issues over the weekend," Mr Currin said.

Council had two calls about flooding on private property on Vale St on Saturday and on Bongard St, Gate Pa on Sunday.

Mr Currin said the Oruahine track on Mauao would remain closed after a rock fall on Friday.

Western Bay fire crews dealt with a handful of minor flooding callouts over the weekend, mainly to due to blocked drains and down pipes.

Pukehina's fire chief and dairy farmer Errol Watts said with 137mm of rain in the area on Thursday/Friday and another 90mm on Saturday it was almost too much rain.

Mr Watts said given the wet, cold spring which meant farmers profits were down about 20 per cent, this amount of soaking would be welcomed as long as farm paddocks had a good drainage system,

It meant most farmers would be set up for a good start to the winter season, he said

In Whiritoa, flooding on Mako Ave was worsened over the weekend by sightseers driving past in cars, causing water to wash onto properties. People had been asked to avoid the area.

Ms Clark said a deep low over eastern Bay of Plenty was expected to move rapidly southeast of the North Island last night.

Ms Clark said apart from a few isolated showers in Tauranga this morning, a mainly fine day was on the cards, and the weather would gradually improve later in the week.

Waihi and Whangamata may take a little longer to clear but people would start to see some fine skies again, she said.

5-day weather forecast for Tauranga

Tomorrow, March 14:
Fine spells. Southwesterlies
turn south easterly
23°C High, 13°C overnight

Wednesday, March 15:
Becoming fine. Southeasterlies.
23°C High, 12°C overnight

Thursday, March 16:
Mainly fine, Southeasterlies dying out.
23°C high, 13°C overnight

Friday, March 17:
Fine, not much wind.
23°C high, 15°C overnight

Saturday, March 18:
Fine with little wind,
23°C high, 15°C overnight

Source: MetService