Flooding has forced widespread road closures across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, while heavy rain continues to put pressure on local water and wastewater networks.
A Christchurch City Council spokesperson said teams are closely monitoring the impact of the storm on water supplies, particularly in Akaroa, Takamatua and Duvauchelle.
“We’re currently in a good position and all our reservoirs are full,” the spokesperson said. “While the situation is stable, heavy rain events are unpredictable and we encourage residents to be mindful of water use and conserve where possible.”
Peter Timbs Meats
The council said staff and contractors are available around the clock to respond to any issues. Updates will be provided via Facebook and the Newsline live-blog if pressure on water supplies increases.
Heavy rainfall is also affecting the wastewater network. In some areas, toilets, sinks and showers may drain slowly—or not at all. If this occurs, the council said clean-up operations will be arranged once notified.
Flooding has also closed numerous roads across the region.
Christchurch city closures include:
- Fitzgerald Avenue between Kilmore Street and Cambridge Terrace
- Cambridge Terrace from Barbadoes Street to Churchill Street
- New Brighton Road between Rawson Street and Pages Road
- Avonside Drive between Wainoni Road and Kerrs Road
- Avonside Drive/Swanns Road between Retreat Road and Woodham Road
- Empire Road from Main North Road
- River Road
- #278 Gardiners Road
- Ernlea Terrace at Colombo Street
- Hunter Terrace
- Riverlaw, Clarendon, Richardson, and Eastern terraces
Banks Peninsula closures include:
- SH75 from Tai Tapu to Akaroa
- Gebbies Pass Road
- Kinloch Road
- Reynolds Valley Road
- Governors Bay–Teddington Road
- Bossu Road
- Port Levy–Pigeon Bay Road
- Stony Bay Road
The council also confirmed Lyttelton’s organics kerbside collection will be impacted today due to weather.
Ahead of the rain, council contractors cleared gutters, sumps, and stormwater grates, and are continuing to manage water levels in the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River. The city’s stormwater network is designed to use roads as secondary flow paths, which may lead to visible surface flooding during heavy rain.
The council urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and keep an eye on official updates.
