3 Jun 2013

Southland council warns flood water flowing downstream

6:28 am on 3 June 2013

Southland Regional Council is asking residents near the Mataura river to remain vigilant following heavy rain and flooding.

The upper catchments of the river are at one in 10 year flood levels after over 60 millimetres of rain fell on Sunday.

Council spokesperson Stacey Stuart says the flood waters have peaked in these catchments, but residents further south in Gore need to remain alert as the water flows downsteam.

Ms Stuart says it will take a couple of days for the flood waters to reach the lower catchments.

Meanwhile, the Otago Regional Council has issued a flooding alert for the Pomuhaka river, at Leithen Glen which is currently above three metres and rising at 21 millimetres per hour.