Slips and road closures in Wellington after heavy rain overnight. Video/Matiu Workman
More than 20 slips caused chaos and widespread damage across Wellington overnight after hours of heavy rain.
A woman living next to a large slip that evacuated a block of flats in Wellington's Aro St overnight is still terrified hours after the "frightening" avalanche of mud and vegetation.
Heather Pattersonlives next to the complex, and said the slips started at about 4.20am.
"I woke up with an awful bang. It sounded like an earthquake," she said.
She said the ordeal was "frightening" because the area had had smaller slips in the past.
Flats in Te Aro St, Wellington, were evacuated after an overnight slip.
The slip was just one of more than 20 that came down across the region overnight.
Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said the slip came down a steep slope behind the Aro St flats during a night of persistent rain and winds.
He said it was too early to tell how bad the slip was.
"But a couple of hours ago police made the call they they thought the flats should be evacuated."
Contractors are working to clear 13 slips covering roads in the northern part of the city.
A further 11 are blocking roads in the south. The two largest slips are in Breaker Bay and on the Esplanade between Island Bay and Lyall Bay. Four came down on Brooklyn Rd alone, between Bidwill and Ohiro Rd.
MacLean said a car had also been covered by a slip in Palliser Rd overnight and slips and trees also came down on Chaytor St in Karori and Homebush Rd in Khandallah.
MacLean says both are important commuter routes and are partially blocked.
The Ngaio Gorge Rd was again partially blocked by a small slip, and the Pass of Branda between Seatoun and Breaker Bay remains closed by a large slip, which is causing major traffic disruption.
Palliser Rd will be closed from 9am for the rest of the day and drivers should use alternative routes. Those catching public transport should check @metlinkwgtn for diversions.
No buses will be using the Breaker Bay route today. Photo / Matiu Workman
A slip in Chaytor St is adding to Wellington commuter woes. Photo / Matiu Workman
Inner harbour ferries are on a restricted timetable and sailings in or out of Seatoun have been cancelled.
City of slips
Northern Wellington
• Homebush Rd: A Downer tree team is clearing vegetation and a five-tonne loader is on the way. Traffic control in place. • Ngaio Gorge Rd: A 2.5 tonne loader has cleared the area. • Garden Rd and Chaytor St: A Downer tree team is clearing vegetation and a five-tonne digger is at the sites. Traffic control in place. &bull: Salamanca Rd: The road is now safe and repairs will be done as time permits. Traffic control is in place and may be manned because of an open day at Victoria University. • Grant Rd: Downer team will be there soon with a five-tonne digger. • Blackbridge Rd - Downer Tree team onsite • Makara Rd: Made safe to be programed as time permits • Onslow Rd: Will be cleared with 5 ton loader on route to Homebush Rd • Barnard St: A 2.5-tonne loader is clearing two slips • Sefton: A 2.5-tonne loader is working on two slips.
Southern Wellington:
• Breaker Bay/Pass of Branda: Road closed. About 200 cubic metres of material have come down on the road and a crew is on site • Palliser Rd: About 20 cubic metres has come down on a car; a crew is on site • Vallance St Kilbirnie: Trees are down on power lines and a slip is affecting a residents' driveway. • Brooklyn Rd: Four slips between Bidwill and Ohiro Rds have been coned off and the road is now safe. • Ariki Rd: Made safe after a five cubic metre slip • Mornington Rd: 5 cubic metre and 3 cubic metre slips are being worked on my clean-up crews. • Miramar North Rd: 3 cubic metre has been made safe. • The Esplanade: A large slip has come down between Island Bay and Lyall Bay, covering both lanes. The road is closed and the council is assessing it.
