Evacuations as concerns raised over Mangahauini debris dam

DEBRIS DAM: A huge slip that formed a woody debris dam and lake and diverted the river in Mangahauini Gorge between Tokomaru Bay and Te Puia Springs has local Civi Defence concerned. Rain forecast for the region prompted CD to advise residents in more than 60 homes to evacuate yesterday. Picture supplied

More than 60 homes in the Mangahauini River catchment and in Tokomaru Bay township were evacuated as a precaution yesterday afternoon due to serious concerns about the stability of a debris dam in the river.

Civil Defence went door to door to 64 homes to advise the residents to evacuate.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence Controller Ben Green said with the rain forecast there was “an immediate risk” of the failure of the debris dam upstream of the township.

“The incoming rain amplifies the risk given the ground is very unstable and saturated following the damage done by Cyclone Gabrielle,” he said.

The residents were evacuated to local marae or to stay with whānau in areas outside of the Mangahauini River catchment.

“The safety of our people is paramount,” Mr Green said.

“We are bringing in experts to assess the dam site and provide options that might alleviate the risk.”

The evacuation was supported by Tairāwhiti Civil Defence Emergency Management and the police.

Roadblocks were set up to stop access to areas of concern around Mangahauini River catchment and Tokomaru Bay.

Mayor Rehette Stoltz, who at the time was at the pastoral farmers meeting in Gisborne, told the crowd she had to rush away due to a developing situation up the East Coast.

A community hui was held at the Tokomaru Bay rugby club rooms last night to explain the situation.

“It was well attended . . . our biggest turnout yet,” Tokomaru Bay Civil Defence co-coordinator Gene Takurua said.

“We just basically outlined what has happened and what the risk was.

“The modelling we have done shows if the dam breaks it will happen fast and it will go hard out.”

Another community meeting to update the locals is being held at the rugby clubrooms tomorrow at 4pm.

“We approached Civil Defence in Gisborne about this issue last Sunday and said we wanted expertise on the ground to have a look at the issue,” Mr Takurua said.

“We are still waiting for that to happen.

“We need to tell our people when the assessment of that debris dam can happen so we can give them the most certainty we can.

“In the meantime, everyone is staying away from their homes.”