Press Release – Marlborough District Council 11.15am 18 July 2021 Evacuees are being reunited with vehicles stranded along SH1 between Picton and Blenheim. Stranded vehicles will also be removed by Police if the owner cannot be located or the vehicle is damaged. State Highway 1 including …
11.15am 18 July 2021
Evacuees are being reunited with vehicles stranded along SH1 between Picton and Blenheim. Stranded vehicles will also be removed by Police if the owner cannot be located or the vehicle is damaged.
State Highway 1 including the Wairau River bridge is expected to re-open from midday. All evacuated residents from Tuamarina, Spring Creek and the Lower Wairau can return to their homes from midday.
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Photo: SUPPLIED/ Marlborough District Council
Picton is now cut off from the rest of the South Island, the latest town to be cut off as flooding and high river levels leaves roads impassable.
The Transport Agency says Westport, Tākaka, Collingwood, Murchison, Springs Junction and Nelson are also isolated due to the current weather conditions.
Here is a summary of what is happening in each area.
Four areas of Marlborough evacuated
Marlborough recorded its largest flooding event in history today - far bigger than the previous biggest event in 1983.
Marlborough District Council declared a local state of emergency this afternoon, to ensure it has the resources to evacuate hundreds of properties.
Photo: RNZ
Nelson, Westport, Picton, Murchison, Hanmer Springs and Golden Bay are currently isolated due to the weather.
Buller and Marlborough have declared local states of emergency, as high river levels, flooding, fallen trees and slips close state highways across the top of the South Island.
Buller Emergency Management is evacuating several more streets in Westport as the Buller River rises. Zone 10, under an evacuation order, includes Brougham Street and Eastons Road.
Eight hundred Westport residents evacuated last night have been told they must remain out of their homes for a second night.
Marlborough Emergency Management has evacuated four areas - all of Spring Creek township, Tuamarina township, part of the Lower Wairau and Lower Terrace in Renwick