Rising water levels in Heathcote River
Residents living along the Heathcote River, particularly between Lincoln Road and Cashmere Road, may notice the river level increasing this morning.
That is because we are releasing some of the water that has amassed in the storage basins in the upper Heathcote.
The rise in river level will cause some flooding of low lying land next to the river but it will not rise above the levels reached during the rain even on Wednesday.
The level increase will be gradual and may fluctuate from time to time over the next 24 hours.
If you have any concerns please call the contact centre on 941-8999.
Update on Banks Peninsula roads
The following roads on Banks Peninsula are still closed due to damage from this week’s heavy rain.
- Long Bay Road, from just before Paua Bay Road
- Goughs Bay Road
- Dawbers Road
- Stony Bay Road
- Lavericks Ridge Road
- Hickory Bay Road
- Daglishs Road
Contractors are hoping to get most of those roads reopened today.
Le Bons Bay Valley Road and Flea Bay Road have reopened and road access has been restored to Little Akaloa.
Avonside Drive reopens
The section of Avonside Drive that was closed due to flooding reopened last night.
Update on Banks Peninsula roads
Contractors have been inspecting the roads in the eastern bays of Banks Peninsula and are working to get closed roads reopened as soon as possible.
Le Bons Bay Road, which was closed earlier due to slips and flooding, has now reopened.
Work is under way to restore road access to Little Akaloa from either Chorlton or Little Akaloa Road.
Contractors hope to get the following roads open either later today or tomorrow:
- Lavericks Ridge Road, from Le Bons Bay Road to Lavericks Road.
- Camerons Track/Big Hill Road, from Summit Road to Le Bons Bay Road/Lavericks Ridge Road.
- Flea Bay Road, from the first cattle stop.
Tomorrow, contractors hope to reopen:
- Dawbers Road
- Hickory Bay Road
- Stony Bay Road, from Purple Peak
- Dalglishs Road
Le Bons Bay Valley Road is closed due to a bridge wash-out. At this stage we don't know when this road will be able to reopened.
Long Bay Road is closed due to a 50m long slip. It is hoped that it may be accessible by the end of tomorrow (Friday 17 December.)
Some roads re-opened
The following roads in Christchurch city are now open:
- Avondale Road, from New Brighton Road to Niven Street.
- Breezes Road, from Eglington Street to Niven Street.
- Newport Street, from Wainoni Road to Emlyn Place.
- Clarendon Terrace, from Opawa Road to Sullivan Avenue
- Hunter Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to the end.
- Waimea Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to Colombo Street.
- Earnlea Terrace, from Colombo Street to the end.
- Eastern Terrace, from Sandwich Road to Tennyson Street.
- Carrick Street, from Aylesford Street to Flockton Street.
More Christchurch roads reopening
The following Christchurch roads that were closed due to flooding are now open:
- Marlow Road, from Pages Road to Rowses Road
- Rowses Road, from Esk Place to Guernsey Street.
- Maces Road, from Ruru Road to Wickham Street.
- Thornton Street, from Flockton Street to Aylesford Street.
- Harrison Street, from Thornton Street to Aylesford Street.
Banks Peninsula roads
Widespread slips and flooding has effected the eastern bays of Banks Peninsula with more than 120mm of rain before 6am in Le Bons Bay.
There is currently no access to the Little Akaloa area from either the Summit Road end or from Chorltons Road at Okains.
The following roads are also closed:
- Long Bay Road, from just before Paua Bay Road.
- Goughs Bay Road
- Dawbers Road
- Le Bons Bay Road, from Le Bons Bay Valley Road.
- Le Bons Bay Valley Road
- Hickory Bay Road.
Bin collections happening as normal
The kerbside collection is proceeding as normal today so please make sure you have your bins out for collection if Thursday is your normal collection day.
Worst of the rain over
Rain will continue to fall across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula but the threat of flooding has eased.
Head of Three Waters Helen Beaumont says about 75mm of rain has fallen in city the over the last 24 hours, with coastal suburbs receiving slightly more. Heavier falls have also been recorded in Banks Peninsula – 81mm in Akaroa and 97mm in Duvauchelles.
Over the past 10 years, the average rainfall at the Botanic Gardens throughout the month of December has been 54mm.
The Ōtākaro Avon and Ōpāwaho Heathcote Rivers spilled out of their banks in a number of places and many smaller waterways overflowed across roads and properties.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand did help a few houses in Le Bons Bay to evacuate last night after a stream burst its banks. However, the Council has received no reports yet of any houses in the city flooding above floor level.
“The city was well prepared with key stormwater grates checked and cleared, beach outfall dugs out and pumps placed in a number of locations. The stormwater storage basins in the upper Opawaho Heathcote catchment are only partially full and the water will be released slowly over the next couple of days,’’ Ms Beaumont says.
There are a number of road closures in place in Christchurch city and Banks Peninsula this morning because of flooding or slips. If you are travelling on the roads please take extreme care. If you have to drive through ponded water, go as slow as possible so that you don’t push water onto people’s property, causing damage.
“There have been some wastewater overflows as a result of the heavy rain so we are advising that people treat any floodwater they come into contact with as potentially contaminated.’’
Ms Beaumont says the Council was asking residents last night to avoid flushing toilets, taking showers or use their washing machines because the wasterwater system was under pressure.
“Our message this morning is that it is fine to use the bathroom as normal and to do your washing.’’
Thursday morning road closures
- River Road, from Medway Street to Banks Avenue.
- Avonside Drive, from Linwood Avenue to Stanmore Road.
- Oxford Terrace, from Kilmore Street to Willow Street.
- Marlow Road, from Pages Road to Rowses Road.
- Breezes Road, from Eglington Street to Niven Street.
- Rowses Road, from Esk Place to Guernsey Street.
- Maces Road, from Ruru Road to Wickham Street.
- Avondale Road, from New Brighton Road to Niven Street.
- Newport Street, from Wainoni Road to Emlyn Street.
- Avonside Drive, from Wainoni Road to Emlyn Street.
- Carrick Street, from Aylesford St to Flockton Street.
- Thornton Street, from Flockton Street to Aylesford Street.
- Harrison Street, from Thornton Street to Aylesford Street.
- Clarendon Terrace, from Opawa Road to Sullivan Avenue
- Hunter Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to the end.
- Waimea Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to Colombo Street.
- Earnlea Terrace, from Colombo Street to the end.
- Eastern Terrace, from Sandwich Road to Tennyson Street.
Banks Peninsula
- Long Bay Road, from Paua Bay, is closed due to slips.
- Le Bons Bay Road, from Le Bons Bay Valley Road is closed due to flooding.
- Goughs Road, from Long Bay Road, is closed due to slips.
- Little Akaloa Road is closed due to flooding.
City road closures
The following roads are now closed:
- Marlow Road, from Pages Road to Rowses Road.
- Breezes Road, from Eglinton Street to Niven Street.
- Rowses Road, from Esk Place to Guernsey Street.
- Maces Road, from Ruru Road to Wickham Street.
- Avondale Road, from New Brighton Road to Niven Street.
- Carrick Street, from Aylesford Street to Flockton Street
- Hunter Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to the end of the street.
- Clarendon Terrace, from Opawa Road to Sullivan Avenue.
- Waimea Terrace, from Malcolm Avenue to Colombo Street.
- Earnlea Terrace, from Colombo Street to the end of the street.
- Eastern Terrace, from Sandwich Road to Tennyson Street.
Banks Peninsula road closures
Le Bons Bay Road is now closed from Le Bons Valley Road due to flooding from a stream which has burst its banks.
Little Akaloa Road is also closed due to severe flooding.
Wastewater issues
There are a number of wastewater overflows and sewer issues across the city. All floodwater should be considered contaminated.
Sewers are full and we’re having trouble drawing away in low lying parts of Shirley, Aranui and Heathcote Valley.
We are asking people to minimise flushing toilets and to save having showers until tomorrow morning. Please also avoid putting washing on overnight.
Potential for landslips
There is the potential for landslips due to the persistent heavy rain.
If you notice any landslips, please contact us on 03 941 8999 or 0800 800 169.
Our staff will be able to get in touch with a contractor to attend to the slip.
Flooding forces more road closures
The following roads have been closed due to flooding:
- River Road, from Medway Street to Banks Avenue
- Fitzgerald Avenue, from Kilmore Street to Cambridge Terrace.
- Avonside Drive, from Woodham Road to Retreat Road.
- Edgeware Road, from Hills Road to Geraldine Street.
If you are on the roads, drive slowly and avoid driving through flood waters if possible. If you have to drive through ponded water, please go as slow as possible so that you don’t push water onto people’s property, causing damage.
Kerbside collection
If you have a kerbside collection scheduled for Thursday, and your street is not heavily affected by flooding, please put your bins out tomorrow morning before 6am, rather than overnight, if possible. This is due to weather conditions and to avoid bins getting washed away with flooding overnight.
If your street is closed due to flooding tonight, and you have a kerbside collection scheduled for Thursday, please do not put your bins out until your street has re-opened. Our kerbside collection staff will organise for your bins to be collected when this happens.
More road closures
- Le Bons Bay Road is closed from the school.
- Newport Street is closed from Emlyn Place to Wainoni Road.
- Avonside Drive is closed between Emlyn Place and Wainoni Road.
Road closures
The following roads have been closed due to flooding:
- Avonside Drive, between Linwood Avenue and Stanmore Road.
- Goughs Road
- Long Bay Road
Widespread flooding likely for Christchurch and Banks Peninsula
Residents in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula should prepare for widespread flooding tonight as the rain band hitting the district intensifies.
“We are expecting up to 160mm of rain over the next 24 hours so it is likely there will be surface flooding in many parts of our district,’’ says Christchurch City Council Head of Three Waters Helen Beaumont.
"The forecasts have been changing throughout the day but this is shaping up to an extreme rain event – it could be the biggest rain event to hit Christchurch city for several decades.''