Pines Beach

Residents of low-lying areas of The Pines Beach are advised to continue to evacuate in advance of the high tide at 9pm tonight.

Canterbury Civil Defence said residents on the higher sections of The Pines Beach can stay if they wish, but may be isolated for some time if Beach Road floods.

Waikuku and Saltwater Creek residents should prepare to evacuate – however, this isn’t mandatory yet.

The Civil Defence Centre at Rangiora Baptist Church is open for people who need somewhere to stay. If you feel unsafe at any point in time please self-evacuate here or stay with family and friends. The Mandeville Centre has now closed.

Arthur’s Pass route to the West Coast

SH73 closure now starts at Springfield and goes through to the Porter River bridge. Waka Kotahi crews from both Canterbury and the West Coast will be working to rebuild the abutments at the Porter River bridge once the river levels have dropped. “We are hoping by Thursday we will have SH73 open to a single lane in a number of places.” Shingle spread over the road near the Porter River bridge also needs to be cleared in coming days. The bridge itself has been assessed and is not damaged apart from the guardrail.

Banks Peninsula

Residents in the Akaroa harbour area are still being asked to conserve water.  This is particularly critical around Duvauchelle. Residents should try and keep their water use to a minimum.  

Residents in Duvauchelle should only to use water required for essential purposes.

The flooding in Akaroa has greatly receded after our contractors unblocked the major stormwater pipe.

However, there is still flooding and slips in other parts of Banks Peninsula so anyone travelling in that area should exercise extreme care.

Contractors are planning to open Lake Forsyth due to the high rainfall over the last couple of days.

The opening of the lake will not result in an immediate reduction in flood levels in Little River but it will ensure the situation does not get any worse.

Akaroa highway, Banks Peninsula

SH75 the Akaroa highway is closed between Barrys Bay and Birdlings Flat.

Selwyn area

Main access routes to Leeston will remain closed tonight.

SH1 is currently closed between Burnham and Dunsandel. Leeston Road at Chamberlains Ford is also closed.

The council is urging residents to make alternative arrangements tonight if they are unable to return home.

For urgent enquiries please call 0800 SELWYN (735 996). Further updates will be available tomorrow when it is safe for contractors to make assessments.

Hurunui District Council

Gore Bay is currently isolated, due to major slips and flooding.

Gore Bay Road is closed at the Cheviot end. Cathedral Rd is closed at Hurunui mouth end. Contractors are looking at options to allow restricted access one way.

Inland Road Route 70 is closed due to flooding, south of Mt Lyford

ASHBURTON DISTRICT

4 Bridges confirmed to be damaged/completely unpassable.

• Redcliffs bridge – Double Hill Run Road

• Pudding Hill Bridge – Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road

• Ballentynes Bridge – Lowerdowns Road

• Stour River Bridge – Ashburton Gorge Road

A summary of closed highways in Canterbury as at 5pm

• SH73, Springfield to Castle Hill – slips, flooding, bridge approaches washed out in three places, shingle coating the road for 100 metres and one metre thick between Lake Lyndon and Porter River.

• SH77, the inland route Darfield, Windwhistle to Mt Hutt/ Winchmore – slips and flooding.

• SH75 the Akaroa highway – closed from Barrys Bay to Birdlings Flat.

• SH1, south of Christchurch – closed at the Selwyn River/ Waikirikiri, Dunsandel. Water 500 mm deep, should be opened tomorrow/ Tuesday.

• SH1 remains closed several places through mid to south Canterbury – Hinds to Temuka, water 600 mm deep north of the Hinds River bridge.

• SH77 Methven to Windwhistle and Darfield – the inland scenic route – closed due to flooding several places.

• SH79 – Rangitata to Geraldine, flooded in several places.