27 Jul 2023

Around the motu : Jonathan Leask in Ashburton

From Nine To Noon, 10:45 am on 27 July 2023
Flooding in the Ashburton River forced the closure of the SH1 bridge on Sunday 23 July 2023.

Flooding in the Ashburton River forced the closure of the SH1 bridge on Sunday. Photo: Ashburton District Council

There’s been more heavy rain and flooding  in Ashburton, shutting the State Highway 1 Ashburton/Hakatere River Bridge for the second time in three years, which Jonathan says effectively cut the South Island in half for 12 hours. This has ramped up calls for a second bridge. Farmers say the latest flooding should also be a wake up call for ECan and the Government to channel more support to protection, rather than expensive recovery.

Local Democracy Reporter - Mid Canterbury Jonathan Leask from the Ashburton Guardian