1 Aug 2008

South Island main trunk line and SH1 closed

12:12 pm on 1 August 2008

The main trunk railway line in the South Island is still closed by flooding and slips. It is unlikely to reopen before Saturday.

OnTrack says contractors need to work on the Picton - Christchurch line.

KiwiRail says the closure means the TranzCoastal passenger service is cancelled on Friday.

State Highway 1 remains closed just south of Kaikoura to Cheviot, because of a slip.

SH1 is also closed further south between Oamaru and Maheno, and Waitaki to Pukeuri Junction.

Minister's visit

Civil Defence Minister Rick Barker met Civil Defence officials in North Canterbury on Friday morning.

He also went to Torbay on the North Shore of Auckland day where a landslip is threatening houses.

People were evacuated from the settlement of Amberley Beach in Canterbury due to the high tide on Thursday, but were later allowed to return to home.

Some residents at Leithfield Beach were also told to leave their homes.

Canterbury Regional Council's Civil Defence duty officer John Mitchell told Morning Report that some people may not wish to stay due to the mess.

Efforts on Friday will focus on dealing with a contaminated water supply.

Marlborough assessment

Some 37 people were evacuated from their homes in Picton on Wednesday, and three from houses in Blenheim.

Most have returned home and now face the task of clearing up.

In Picton, Nelson and Greymouth council contractors will be assessing the situation on Friday and repairing damage.

Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn believes damage from the storm will cost the area about $1 million.

He says it's not as bad as the havoc caused by a tornado in 2005, which cost the district about $10 million.

The main concern in Picton is that people will come into contact with floodwaters contaminated by sewage.

The Marlborough District Council has issued public notices about the need to disinfect anything touched by floodwaters.