Bay of Plenty: Pāpāmoa residents woken by early morning flood

A heavy downpour of rain this morning has caused flooding in Pāpāmoa.

Residents of Dickson Rd and Longview Drive woke to find their roads flooded around 6am.

Local resident Janine Bjerring said the flooding happened on Dickson Rd between Alexander Place and Douglas Place.

This morning's heavy rain led to flooding in Pāpāmoa, with residents on Dickson Rd and Longview Drive discovering flooded streets around 6am.

“It happened between 5.45am and 6.30am. It [the water] was up to the fence line.”

She said Fire and Emergency NZ came and unblocked the drains along the road.

“The water drained fairly quickly after the firefighters cleared the drains.”

Fire and Emergency NZ responded to a car stuck in flood water, according to a spokesperson.

“We responded at 6.45am,” the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for MetService said the rain was expected to continue into the early afternoon.

The flooding at the junction of Dickson Rd and Longview Drive was caused by a short period of very heavy rain, Tauranga City Council drainage services manager Radleigh Cairns said.

“The rain peaked at approximately 25mm an hour that looks to have been in excess of the one in 10-year event the network is designed for.”

Once the rain eased, Cairns said the network could clear the flooded area quickly.

“The level of the Wairakei is currently high and Grant Place weir is fully open to enable excess stormwater to flow to the sea.”

Tauranga City Council advise residents to take care around the outlets at Harrison’s Cut and Grant Place while flow rates are increased, Cairns said.