Police, fire and emergency services at Mount Maunganui campground. Photo / Jason Dorday
Four properties on Adams Ave in Mount Manganui have been red-stickered after landslides on Thursday.
Cordons remain in place in the area as a recovery operation continues for the six people buried in the slip.
MetService said it was Tauranga’s wettest day on record, with 274mm of rain falling in 24 hours.
Tauranga City Council confirmed today there were 24 slips across the city.
A total of 11 buildings have been yellow-stickered, all on the western side of the city.
Tauranga City Council emergency operations centre controller Tom McEntyre said there were more reports of slips coming in and further assessments being made.
“Some of the slips have affected multiple properties.”
Philip Raath, who lives in Greerton, owned one of those properties.
Speaking to NZME last week, Raath said his neighbour knocked on his door about 1am on Thursday, and told him some of Raath’s retaining wall had landed on the neighbour’s roof below.
Raath said he appreciated his retaining wall washing away was minor compared with the far more serious slips that had happened around the district.
McEntyre said due to landslides, Mauao and Hopukiore/Mount Drury were both closed to the public until further notice.
“An assessment would be made today about the extent of the cordon at Mauao and whether it can be moved,” McEntyre said in a statement.
“The situation at Hopukiore/Mount Drury was also being assessed today.”
Since Hopukiore/Mount Drury was closed, McEntyre said the tsunami safe location for Mount Maunganui was at Blake Park, between Maunganui Rd and Totara St.
There were more than a dozen slips in the park, blocking vehicle and pedestrian access and damaging tracks, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council said.
The council said the park was still closed and they were working to ascertain when it could be opened again.
In the Western Bay of Plenty, there were six red-stickered properties in the Western Bay of Plenty District – two beside each other on Harbour View Rd in Ōmokoroa, and four on Welcome Bay Rd.
“There are also 12 yellow-stickered properties – six in Welcome Bay, two at Ongare Point, one each at Kauri Point, Katikati, Ōmokoroa and Waihī Beach,“ Western Bay of Plenty District Council emergency control centre controller Scott Parker said.
He said the Katikati property had been yellow-stickered as a result of flooding, and would need to be decontaminated before the owners could move back in.
Parker said yellow placards can be “helpful for property owners” as they provide the documented evidence insurers and Earthquake Commission need to progress claims more quickly.
“Our MBIE co-ordinator and council’s building team met this morning to work through the specific requirements for each of the properties that have been yellow-stickered.
“Because each property has a different level of restricted access, the process for lifting a yellow sticker will vary depending on the nature of the damage and the safety risks identified by the rapid building assessment.”
He said the team was currently preparing clear information for affected property owners outlining what is required in each case.
“We understand the frustration of residents who cannot return to their homes. However, these restrictions remain in place strictly for safety reasons.
“We ask for space and patience as this work progresses. It is complex and cannot be rushed.“
Te Puna Quarry Park is open and Kaiate Falls (Te Rerekawau) was closed due to slips.
There are also some landslip blockages on cycleways at Ōmokoroa but not on the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway, Parker said.
He said Te Puke Quarry Rd between 777 and 662 was closed with no through access.
Rocky Cutting Rd and Reid Rd were resident access only roads until further notice.
“Although no other parks or reserves in the district are currently closed, we haven’t inspected all of them yet.”
People were asked to report any issues to council via Antenno or by calling 0800 926 732.