Go away or chip in and volunteer, flood rubberneckers told

Some of the worst damage to houses by the flooding in Edgecumbe. Photo/file

Rubberneckers are hampering the efforts of the 150 volunteers helping in the clean-up of Edgecumbe.

Whakatane District mayor Tony Bonne said members of the Ngati Awa Volunteer Army were reporting a steady stream of sightseers driving around the streets of the town.

"They're getting in the way - and this is frustrating and annoying for the volunteers and residents working on the clean-up."

Mr Bonne said anyone who was concerned for the people of Edgecumbe should help with the clean-up.

The clean-up effort in Edgecumbe continued today with about 150 volunteers working in both the northern and southern areas of the town.

The work is being done by the Ngati Awa Volunteer Army in collaboration with Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Whakatane District Council.

Volunteers are working on flood-damaged properties, helping residents and contractors in removing the worst affected belongings and removing silt from public areas.

Vehicle access to Te Whaiti and Ruatahuna was restored yesterday . Access to Te Whaiti is still via the Timberlands forest roads between Murupara and Minginui.

Motorists are advised to drive cautiously.

The Minginui-Te Whaiti Rd is also open.

Several roads are still closed. State Highway 2 - Waimana Gorge - is still closed due to large unstable slip. It will be at least midweek before this section of road is reopened. Galatea Rd at Te Mahoe is also still closed due to an under slip and Stanley Rd is closed at the Waimana end due to a slip.

Rautahi Marae Civil Defence Centre will close and the service will transition to the Edgecumbe Contact Centre at the Edgecumbe War Memorial Hall at midday.

Boil-water notices remain in force for the whole district, except for Whakatane town, Ohope, Murupara, Matata and Coastlands.

Tankers of drinking water are at Ruatoki School, Taneatua by the school, and by the skate park, Waimana by the shops and Edgecumbe by the Riverslea Mall and by the Edgecumbe War Memorial Hall. People are asked to bring their own containers to fill.

Whakatane district residents and businesses, including those in Edgecumbe, are strongly urged not to hose or wash mud and silt into drains and the stormwater system as the post-flood clean-up continues.

Civil Defence controller Paula Chapman continued to stress that while it was understandable residents would want to wash mud from homes, driveways and gardens, mud and silt in the system may block pipes and cause flooding when further rain came.

Residents are advised to pile mud and silt on the berms outside, or near, their properties. It will be collected over the next few days.

Anyone who wishes to help with the clean-up is encouraged to register at www.whakatane.govt.nz/project-edgecumbe.

Volunteers will be contacted directly to confirm when and where they are required to help.