Source: Radio New Zealand
The single-lane bridge to Lake Ferry, Wairarapa, has been gouged out by floodwaters. Supplied / South Wairarapa District Council
A washout at a single lane bridge has completely cut off several settlements in southern Wairarapa, including Lake Ferry and Cape Palliser.
Torrential rain, which began on Sunday night, caused widespread flooding in rural and coastal areas, but the already isolated communities are now completely cut off, after the Lake Ferry Road bridge over the Turangaui River fell away overnight.
The bridge is the only access by road to communities in Lake Ferry, and along the Cape Palliser coast, such as Whāngaimoana and Ngawi.
South Wairarapa District Council said the the bridge was located between Warrens Road and the junction with Cape Palliser Road.
“The bridge is only one lane and is the main access route to Lake Ferry and Cape Palliser. This means those communities cannot currently be reached by road.
“Road crews and contractors are on site working urgently to repair the damage and reopen the road. The road is expected to reopen later this afternoon.”
Pirinoa Station farmer Guy Didsbury told Morning Report the bridge had been “gouged out” and following a wellfare check on a neighbour, Whāngaimoana Beach local Terry Shubkin went to see the damage for herself.
She said a four-wheel drive was necessary before even reaching the bridge.
“But even if you could pass that, you get to the bridge and the bridge itself is washed out.
“There’s about a three-metre gap.”
Despite the washout, Shubkin wasn’t too concerned about being trapped.
“We are lucky compared to other people, we are well set-up here.
“We have lost our water pump, but we do have a 10,000L tank here I just have to figure out how to get the freshwater out of it.”
Shubkin said other residents had floodwaters right through their properties – “they’re not so lucky”.
The storm itself was “pretty rough and scary” when it hit on Sunday night, she said with rising floodwaters stopping just two inches shy of the house.
“We do flood, but this is the worst I’ve seen in 23 years.”
Shubkin said power had since returned and she was impressed with Civil Defence on Monday who were undertaking door-knocks when the weather was still severe.
“When the storm was … still quite bad they actually came down the street a couple of times to check on people.”
Wairarapa Emergency Operations Centre Controller, Simon Taylor said the main priority on Tuesday was to establish communication with rural and coastal communities and understand their needs.
A reconnaissance helicopter flight on Monday was turned around due to bad weather.
It flew from Masterton to Lake Ferry and Cape Palliser, but the severe weather prevented its flight over Tora, Flat Point, Riversdale, Castlepoint and Mataikona.
He said food had been delivered to some rural communities in South Wairarapa by emergency services in four-wheel drives.
He understood people were “tired and frustrated,” particularly where power and water supplies had been disrupted and asked people to stay safe and check on their neighbours.
“One of the key things in the Wairarapa, we are a community that looks after ourselves and our neighbours.”
On Tuesday morning, Powerco said 1148 homes were still without power across Wairarapa, down from 3300 on Monday evening.
A boil water notice remained in place for Pirinoa following the inundation of the water treatment plant.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
