Edgecumbe residents given brief access to their homes to collect essential belongings.
Some residents in flood-ravaged Edgecumbe are being allowed back into their properties this morning, but it is limited to just a few dozen homes.
Locals from 46 properties along Hydro Rd, Nikau Place, Miro Place and Konini Place are allowed back from 8am.
Severe weather led to the Rangitaiki River breaching a stopbank last Thursday, completely flooding the Bay of Plenty town and forcing residents to evacuate the muddy flood.
The Whakatane District Council said there is running water but no wastewater for the homes, forcing a ban on flushing toilets, and using showers, sinks or drains.
Portable toilets are being installed in the neighbourhood.
A boil water notice is still in place for all of the Taneatua, Ruatoki and Rangitaiki Plains areas.
While the Edgecumbe township remains cordoned off, residents from more than 300 properties which have not been flooded were able to get assisted access to their properties on Sunday.
The ponded water in Edgecumbe also continues to diminish, as the Bay of Plenty Regional Council uses 17 pumps, 24 hours a day, to move floodwaters out.
The combined pumps are discharging 5000 litres per second which translates to 0.4 million cubic metres water per day.
The main breach of the river stopbank is secure, while work to repair the breach at Rewatu Rd is expected to be finished today or Tuesday, the Whakatane District Council said.
Meanwhile, an interim health centre and pharmacy for the area is fully operating from today. It's at the Te Teko Health Centre.
The Rangitaiki River breaching a stopbank last Thursday. Photo / George Novak
Ministry for Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy is also expected to tour the flood-damaged region today, with the hot topic expected to be a relief package.
Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty president Darryl Jensen said the organisation had helped to move more than 3500 animals, mostly dairy cows, from the region and others had been moved privately.
Fonterra's Edgecumbe factory is closed and milk is being carted to other factories.
Pumps are being used in kiwifruit orchards where vines are heavy with fruit ahead of harvest but there are losses.
Farmers have incurred huge costs in moving stock and faced a hard winter because feed, usually grown in autumn, has been lost in the floods.
The Rangitaiki River breaching through a stopbank last Thursday. Photo / George Novak
