The picnic area at the Whangarei Falls flooded during heavy rain on Thursday. Photo/Nicholas Connop
The bill to clean up surface flooding, minor slips and potholes around Whangārei after two days of heavy rain is expected to reach at least $200,000.
However, Whangārei District Council planned to have all the sports fields open today so Saturday sport could go ahead as normal. Council staff had reported back to chief executive Rob Forlong after two days of intense rainfall.
"Overall there has been no significant damage," Forlong said.
He said there was lots of surface flooding and minor slips and potholes, with estimated costs of $200,000.
Contractors spent yesterday repairing potholes on Riverside Drive and working to clear slips on Waipū Gorge Rd and Tangihua Rd. State Highway One at Whakapara reopened overnight on Thursday.
Forlong said there had been lots of sewer overloading and surface flooding around the wastewater networks.
The UV treatment at the Hātea wastewater treatment plant shutdown due to a power issue. He said that might be on the council's side of the supply and this was being reviewed.
Forlong said banks breached at the Hikurangi Flood Scheme and will need some maintenance. There will be a high pumping cost associated with this and a full report was being put together.
Forlong said the Poroti, Ruddles and Ahuroa water treatment plants were shut down due to high turbidity. The Ruddles plant was working yesterday morning and the other two were expected to start again yesterday afternoon.
"Reservoirs are healthy - all okay. No supply problems."
Forlong said a tree fell on a garage in Kamo and a piece of perspex blew out on the canopy bridge.
Parks and Recreation manager Sue Hodge said there had been more erosion at Sandy Bay near the toilets.
A draft plan for a long term fix has been completed. It will see a rock revetment wall similar to the adjacent property built. Hodge said the council plans to back fill the revetment wall to reclaim what was lost during the heavy rain.
"Subject to a consent, we plan to complete the work before summer."
Forlong said this work will cost around $200,000.
He acknowledged the contractors and staff who had been out working into the night making things safer.