Evacuee numbers up in Eastern Bay Of Plenty

3.25pm

The number of people registered as evacuees in flooded Eastern Bay of Plenty rose by another 450 to 2552 today, as authorities and residents raced to prepare for forecast rain overnight.

Many rural people were still to register at evacuation centres, so the total number of displaced people was still unknown, the Disaster Recovery Centre (DRC) in Whakatane said in a statement.

Whakatane district's state of emergency would remain until at least Friday afternoon, even though the weather forecast had improved.

The MetService predicted rain would clear from Bay of Plenty to Hawke's Bay by tomorrow afternoon, but the DRC said even brief heavy falls overnight could cause further small floods on the Whakatane River and moderate levels on the Rangitaiki River.

The collated figures for people, houses, farms, roads and animals affected by the floods which arrived 12 days ago painted a grim picture today.

Most of the 2552 people known to have evacuated since then had been billeted, rehoused or were staying with friends and family. They were registering with authorities as they got the chance, the centre's Linda Thompson told NZPA.

More than 96 evacuees were still in temporary Civil Defence accommodation -- 65 in Whakatane district and 31 in Opotiki.

Whakatane District Council has inspected 457 houses damaged by floods and slips, and 141 would not be able to be occupied until repaired. Of those, 110 had no insurance.

About 80 houses on the Rangitaiki Plains were also likely to be damaged but could not be reached until water levels allowed access next week.

State Highway 38 from Te Whaiti to Ruatahuna was unlikely to open until August 20.

Fonterra's Edgecumbe factory would be closed until August 2 and about 450 farms and lifestyle blocks had been affected in Opotiki and Whakatane districts.

About 5000 cows and 1000 yearlings had been moved out for grazing elsewhere, with some likely to return in about six weeks.

Many farm workers' homes were damaged, with several cowsheds needing work and damage to races, lanes, fences and drains. Some areas would require re-grassing.

Many dairy farmers were unlikely to milk this season, losing an entire year's income.

About 10,000ha to 12,000ha of farmland had been affected, including about 15 orchards, most of them growing kiwifruit and others berries and flowers.

Winter pruning would be delayed and kiwifruit orchards may not be sprayed. A rural task force had been established to co-ordinate the efforts to support the rural sector.

Regional council Environment Bay of Plenty said today that with stopbanks and catchments absolutely sodden, it had to be vigilant.

At 2am today, TrustPower had finished lowering the Matahina Dam to its minimum level, giving it more capacity to store water and take pressure off the Rangitaiki River.

A breach in the Rangitaiki River stopbank was now filled in, with a wall of rock built up to well above river water level.

Good progress was being made in pumping water from the Rangitaiki Plains. Technicians had arrived from outside the region to relieve staff who had been checking and maintaining the pumps, which numbered more than 80.

- NZPA