As access to areas affected by Cyclone Gabrielle opens up, the Thames-Coromandel District Council says the key focus of its Civil Defence team today will be getting fuel supplies to the farmers and isolated communities in the northern Coromandel.
This includes working with Powerco to restore electricity supply to a few of the more isolated communities.
In an update at 11.30am today, Powerco said 1446 were still without power in the Coromandel.
“We know how hard it will be for those customers who’ve been without power for up to four days now. I also understand how frustrating it must be sitting there waiting for supply to be restored – particularly if you see crews in your area and you’re still without power,” Powerco Head of Network Operations, Caz Haydon, said.
“With many roads still closed or compromised, options such as coastal and air access to this area will be considered,” the council said in a media release.
“We’re continuing work to meet the welfare needs of displaced people and will continue for possibly another two weeks.”
“If you’ve been isolated and self-reliant since Cyclone Gabrielle struck but now find yourself needing some help to get welfare support such as food, fuel or medicine, contact Here to Help U on 0800 568 273 or online at www.heretohelpu.nz.”
Critical infrastructure such as water and wastewater were also a priority focus today, the council said, as a few plants, some of which were private schemes, were still under pressure and may need additional resourcing.
The council said Waka Kotahi/NZTA, contractor Higgins and local roading contractor Ventia were doing their utmost to open as many roads as possible today, but, “as we experienced last evening, SH25 opened only to have two large slips come down 30 minutes later which closed the roads again.”
“There is light at the end of this tunnel, but we are not there yet,” said Civil Defence Controller Garry Towler.
“While it is tempting to get out and about and see what has happened, the entire Coromandel is still fragile so take care and keep up to date and informed.”
Waka Kotahi and council roading teams have asked that if you don’t absolutely need to travel, please stay off the roads for the time being, so that crews can clear roads with less need to pause to allow traffic to pass.
“And if you’re tempted to get out on the water, please be mindful that there is a great deal of debris in the water, so be on the lookout.”
Waikato Regional Council said eight vessels were sunk or stranded on beaches during the cyclone in Whangamatā, Tairua Harbour, Wyuna Bay, Whanganui Island and Coromandel Harbour.
The council said deputy harbourmaster Hayden Coburn was able to make it across to Coromandel, securing a boom around one vessel to contain leaking oil.
“The other vessels are intact with low risk of spilling oil,” they said in a Facebook post.
Tairua locals save a boat washed ashore overnight Monday. Photo / Mike Scott
Local contractors are acting on behalf of boat owners to salvage the vessels, the council said, although Coburn is trying to locate the owners of a boat on the rocks at Oamaru Bay.
“It’s been pretty rough out there still but it’s going to get better which is good because there are a lot of areas I haven’t been able to get to because of the conditions,” he said.
State Highway 25 is open in sections restoring access between Thames and Matarangi, and SH2 through Karangahake Gorge is also open for essential travel, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Slips between Hikuai and Whangamata have been cleared for essential travel only.
This meant people in towns on the east coast like Whitianga and Tairua could now leave the peninsula and supplies could get in, Waka Kotahi said in a media release.
SH25 was still closed between Ruamahanga Bay and Tapu on the Thames-Coast Highway. Only emergency services and civil defence could get through here.
SH25 Te Rerenga to Kūaotunu is still closed due to major slips between Matarangi Rd and Kūaotunu. Access was strictly for emergency services/civil defence via a private land diversion, but unavailable to the general public.
Other parts of SH25 were open but many areas were one lane only and road users should expect significant disruption and delays due to ongoing clean up works. Caution was advised and motorists are asked to stick to essential travel only.
SH2 Paeroa and Waihi through the Karangahake Gorge was now open for essential travel only
Image 1 of 23: Flooding in Coromandel. Photo / Supplied
Due to remaining areas of debris and mud on the road and slippery surface areas extreme caution was required on this section of SH2.
Some sections had 30km/h or 50km/h temporary speed limits in place.
Clean up works would resume today and road users should expect significant disruption and potential delays when travelling through this area, Waka Kotahi said.
“Contractors have made tremendous progress clearing a large number of slips on State Highway 2 through the Gorge and around State Highway 25, the Peninsula’s key thoroughfare,” Waka Kotahi System Manager for the Waikato, Cara Lauder, said.
“It’s a huge job and we’re so proud of our hard working local contractors who are 100 per cent committed to re-opening these roads as soon as possible.
“It is Waka Kotahi’s top priority to restore access to isolated communities. We appreciate how frustrating and disabling the road closures are for the Coromandel community and we want to thank everyone for their patience while we’re working to fully re-open the roads, " Lauder said.
Due to an emerging risk posed by a slip with suspended trees SH25 is still closed between Ruamahanga Bay and Tapu on the Thames-Coast Highway. Photo / Waka Kotahi
Parts of the Coromandel Peninsula are without power entering a fifth day and many roads remain closed as towns continue to clean up after Cyclone Gabrielle.
Coromandel-Thames Civil Defence controller Garry Towler told RNZ that with people still displaced from their homes the focus was on welfare support.
A break in the weather allowed for power restoration into Tairua and the roading network was opened up enough for Powerco to bring in big generators, Towler said.
But a “good percentage” of people in Tairua and Pauanui were still without power, as were seven or eight smaller communities.
Most local roads were still compromised, Towler said, with 40-50 slips on these roads keeping a lot of them closed.
Waka Kotahi contractors have brought police out at two key State Highway points to stop drivers breaking the rules and also to stop the public abusing staff.
On Wednesday evening, Waka Kotahi said it was quite confident by late Wednesday night or Thursday morning the SH25 around the Coromandel would be open but subject to a lot of traffic management.
“The supply chain should be able to resume to some degree [on Thursday] and so fingers crossed that’s going to happen.
“Slips on peninsula roads north of Whitanga have blocked access to some areas.
Tairua in the high tide on Tuesday. Photo / Nola Langford
“There are some farmers in the northern third of Mercury Bay, up in the top part of the Coromandel who are fast running out of fuel and we are trying to establish access for them with Fonterra and Fed Farmers too to get some support up there,” Towler said.
The council says “Our roading teams are getting to areas cut off by slips and collapses. The lack of access along the state highways has hampered access to areas like Kūaotunu, but with help from Waka Kotahi our geotechnical assessment crews are getting through to survey the damage.
“On other roads we are sharing flights with PowerCo to get a picture of the extent of damage along routes like Port Jackson Road. We are making good progress opening roads to one lane through slips, but the scale of the event and narrowness of some of the roads means that work is limited to what one crew at a time can do on each road.”
Waka Kotahi State Highways update:
SH2 Mangatarata to Paeroa: OPEN
SH2 Paeroa to Waihi inc. Karangahake Gorge: OPEN - ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY
Debris and slippery surface areas - extreme caution is required.
Some sections have 30km/h or 50km/h temporary speed limits in place.
Clean up works continue today and road users should expect significant disruption and potential delays when travelling through this area.
SH2 Waihi to Athenree Gorge: OPEN
SH25 Kopu to Thames: OPEN
SH25 Thames to Ruamahanga Bay: OPEN but COMPROMISED - ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY
Due to numerous slips, surface flooding, fallen vegetation and debris on the road, extreme caution is required between Tararu and Ruamahanga Bay. Many areas have been reduced to one lane only.
Clean up works continue today and road users should expect significant disruption and potential delays when travelling through this area.
Road closure signs, temporary speed limits and a digital notice board were in place overnight in readiness for today’s works, and to discourage non-essential travel.
SH25 Ruamahanga Bay to Tapu: CLOSED – EMERGENCY SERVICES / CIVIL DEFENCE APPROVED TRAVEL ONLY
A slip with suspended trees poses an ongoing risk north of Otuturu Crescent at Ruamahanga Bay to Tapu.
Works are under way in this area as a priority
SH25 Tapu to Coromandel: OPEN but COMPROMISED - ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY
There is cracking in the road between the Kereta Hill / Manaia lookout and the Manaia township and also immediately south of the Te Kouma Road intersection with SH25. The available road is narrow in these locations.
Emergency services / civil defence approved access is available via a private land diversion. This private land route is strictly unavailable to the general public.
SH25 Kūaotunu to Whitianga: OPEN but COMPROMISED - ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY
Due to slips blocking one lane, fallen vegetation and debris on the road, extreme caution is advised.
Clean up works are continuing today and road users should expect significant disruption and potential delays when travelling through this area.
SH25 Whitianga to Tairua: OPEN but ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY
Due to numerous slips, surface flooding, fallen vegetation and debris on the road, extreme caution is advised
Due to remaining small slips and debris on the road, caution is advised
SH25 Hikuai to Whangamata: OPEN but COMPROMISED - ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY
Due to large slips which have been opened to one lane, extreme caution is required between Hikuai and Opoutere.
Clean up works continue today and road users should expect significant disruption and potential delays when travelling through this area.
Road closure signs, temporary speed limits and other warning signs were left in place overnight in readiness for today’s works, and to discourage non-essential travel.
One lane is open to permit access to properties either side of the slip at the summit which completely severed the east / west link since the Auckland Anniversary Storm Event.
“Please do not ignore road closed signs. It is dangerous. Waka Kotahi contractors have brought police out at two key State Highway points to stop drivers breaking the rules and also to stop the public abusing staff.”
