Flooding: State Highway 6 remains closed

The Nelson and Tasman regions have received high levels of rains over the past few days with the Richmond and Bryant Ranges, Rai Valley, Nelson Lakes, and Tasman west of Motueka being issued orange rain warnings by MetService.

Despite a brief respite from the rain Friday morning, MetService are warning that further rain is possible this coming weekend and may issue new rain warnings closer to the event.

By early Saturday morning, MetService were projecting between 170 and 280mm of rain in the Richmond and Bryant Ranges, Rai Valley and Nelson Lakes. However, they also say that parts of Nelson and Marlborough have already received 200-400mm of rain.

The Whangamoa Saddle has been closed due to flooding until further notice, shutting State Highway access between Hira and Rai Valley.

The Nelson City Council has confirmed that traffic management is in place at Hira and Rai Valley.

Traffic travelling from Blenheim to Nelson have been advised to take the detour via SH63 Wairau Valley to St Arnaud, then SH63 St Arnaud to Kawatiri Junction, and SH6 north to Nelson. The route is reversed for those travelling from Nelson to Blenheim.

Rocks Rd was closed for a few hours around midday on Thursday to all but heavy vehicles, due to concerns over significant waves crashing over the road.

The Council warns that Rocks Rd is expected to be closed from 11am-2pm on Friday as similar conditions are expected.

There has been a minor slip on Cable Bay Rd and surface flooding has forced the closure of a portion of Maitai Valley Rd.

Additionally, the Council also warns that some central areas can be flooded as high tides force seawater through the storm water system which can cause surface flooding.

People are advised to use caution in these areas (which include Wakatu Carpark, the Queen Elizabeth II Drive underpass, Paru Paru Road, Vanguard Street, Gloucester Street, and Tahaki Street) around midday and midnight when tides are at their highest.

The Tasman District Council has warned residents of Tākaka not to enter the floodwaters.

The waste treatment plant on Haldane Road has received large amounts of rain which has increased the water levels in their treatment ponds. Partially treated wastewater is likely to overflow into adjacent land and potentially into a creek that feeds the Tākaka River.

Additional pumping equipment has been brought in to try and keep the treatment ponds at a manageable level.

Buller and Westland continue to be battered by rain, with some stations in the Westland ranges registering 500-800mm of rain. The MetService-issued red rain warnings remain in place.

There are also a number of slips north of Haast township to Franz Josef.