[s ]Damage from the weekend's floods is less severe than expected, but recovery will cost about $1 million, the Waitaki District Council says.
Damage from the weekend's floods is less severe than expected, but recovery will cost about $1 million, the Waitaki District Council says.
The storm caused a large hole in the Humber Bridge. Photo: Supplied: Waitaki District Council
Oamaru residents spent the weekend cleaning out houses, basements and garages after a record amount of rain fell on Friday and inundated the town's stormwater network.
Waitaki District Council acting chief executive Neil Jorgensen said a lot of the damage was superficial, and debris, small slips and gravel need to be cleared.
He said three houses had sustained serious damage as well as two bridges.
One of the bridges, the Humber Street Bridge, has developed a large sinkhole stretching across both lanes, big enough to fit a small car.
The council urged people to observe road closures around the bridge, and on on Weston Ngapara Road, saying they risked injury by ignoring the warnings to stay away.
Trucks have also been reported travelling across the closed Domain Road Bridge in Dunback, and the council is urging people to be patient while the roads are repaired.
Some properties have had sewage contaminated floodwater under them and Mr Jorgensen said anyone who had sewage contamination or slips on their property should contact the council.
In Clutha, the district council said it had moved into a month-long recovery period after the weekend's rain.
The Clutha District Council is asking people to limit their water use after the flooding, with the Tapanui water reservoir 30 percent full, and the Milton reservoir 40 percent full.
Residents have been asked not to use hoses or water for cleaning up at this stage, and to use water only for essential household tasks.
There is a boil water notice in the Richardson North Rural Water Scheme and the Whitelea Road area.
The council had helped two Milton families whose homes were evacuated due to flooding.
