The small West Coast community of Granity, 32km northeast of Westport, is this morning drying out after flooding last night led to seven homes being evacuated
Heavy rain fell along the entire West Coast yesterday but was particularly heavy at Granity, causing two slips and forcing the closure of the rail
link through the town.
Families who evacuated their homes took shelter at the fire station and with other families in the area but were expected to return home this morning.
Granity Tavern owner Gavin Chang told NZPA this morning it had stopped raining and would be a clear day.
"Community spirit is very good here and everyone is helping one another.
"We'll have teams of unaffected people going out and helping those who have been affected in some way."
Buller mayor Pat O'Dea said today the homes were evacuated as a precaution.
"Those hills behind Granity are very steep and it appears some of the culverts under the rail and road blocked and that put at risk some homes," he told National Radio.
It was impossible last night to accurately assess the risk and put machinery in the area to stop flooding.
"I guess the decision to evacuate was made on safety reasons rather than take risks with operators and personnel who were looking to clear drains and culverts.
Mr O'Dea said the small community would today start the job of clearing up.
"Tranz Rail will have to stop their coal trains that go through to Lyttleton until the rail has been assessed and re-established. Roading will have to be checked to see if there's any under-mining of surfaces.
"I guess the insurers and home owners will have top assess their homes and see what the damage is there," he said.
There was mud and debris across the road, but the main highway was currently open, police said.
- NZPA
