Lakeside resident devastated by flood damage

Hannahs and Holdens Bay Residents & Ratepayers Association secretary Shirley Parry lakeside at Hannahs Bay. Photo/Ben Fraser

A local woman is reeling after Lake Rotorua's overflow caused flooding to properties and public access areas.

Hannahs and Holdens Bay Residents & Ratepayers Association secretary Shirley Parry called the damage at Hannahs Bay horrendous.

"The Queen's Chain walkway is gone, it's just gone."

She had gone down to take photos, and was shocked at what she saw.

"It's never been as bad as this in the 41 years I've lived here. I blame it on the lake levels...I'm devastated."

Mrs Parry said the solution to stop it happening again would have to be long-term.

"It's not going to be a quick fix."

Resident Shirley Kelly, whose property is not on the lake front, said she had worse than normal surface flooding at her Willow Ave home.

Mrs Kelly had gone for a walk to see the damage yesterday and was astounded to see the area in front of the Lovegrove's property and the neighbouring house.

"It looked like a lake."

Down the road at Hannahs Bay Reserve, two contractors from Infracore were checking out the damage done to wharfs in the area.

They had cleared what debris they could, but said it was too wet underfoot to do more.

One of them said he'd never seen the lake like it before.