22 May 2024
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: This week's weather event
Enquiry
We wanted to do a small overview of the weather event yesterday and the impact it has had and would like to ask a few questions, please.
Can I please have a brief overview as to yesterday's events?
Who and how many people were involved in the response yesterday? Until when?
How many homes were damaged and where were they? To what extent?
How many properties needed or are needing to be pumped of water?
Which roads were impacted and to what extent?
What kinds of things did the council respond to and how many?
How many sandbags and where? Were these effective?
What is the situation today? (Stream receding, monitoring, inspecting damage or houses, road clearing etc?)
Any message to the community?
Response
From Primary Local Controller and General Manager Infrastructure and Environment, Stavros Michael:
Can I please have a brief overview as to yesterday's events?
See overview below.
Who and how many people were involved in the response yesterday? Until when?
See overview below.
How many homes were damaged and where were they? To what extent?
This is not information Council has. We did not receive any direct reports of water getting into homes and/or homes being damaged but received reports of some commercial buildings in Riri Street being flooded. People should contact their insurance companies about any damage to their homes or business premises.
How many properties needed or are needing to be pumped of water?
You’ll need to refer this to FENZ which is the agency that assists with pumping of water from properties.
Which roads were impacted and to what extent? And What kinds of things did the council respond to and how many?
You’ll find that information at the following link on RLC’s website which includes all matters dealt with and the situation today: Stream water levels dropping - Rotorua Lakes Council
How many sandbags and where? Were these effective?
Council contractors provided some sandbags but many people have or can get their own. Sandbags are limited in their effectiveness, but can be a useful emergency barrier.
What is the situation today? (Stream receding, monitoring, inspecting damage or houses, road clearing etc?)
Regarding stream levels, you will need to speak with BOPRC which is the agency that monitors waterways.
See the following link on RLC website re work that is happening today (Wednesday): Stream water levels dropping - Rotorua Lakes Council.
Any house inspections that may be required would be arranged by homeowners through their insurance companies.
Any message to the community?
See overview below
Overview
Things happened quickly yesterday.
We were dealing with the usual network checks and weather-related callouts that happen during a rain event and tending to matters such as surface flooding and treefalls when we were alerted to rising water levels in the Ngongotahā Stream.
We went to see what the situation was and while we were there the water breached the stream near the intersection of Brake Road. Knowing the vulnerability of the stream to breaching, we decided to partially activate our Emergency Operations Centre and encourage Western Rd residents to self-evacuate as a precaution.
We deployed 12 council staff who work in the welfare function during a state of emergency to visit Western Road properties. Most people they spoke to were very appreciative of Council making contact, advising them of the situation and providing general advice about what to do. Longer term residents were comfortable about knowing when they should evacuate their homes and newer residents were thankful for the information and advice from the welfare officers.
Most people decided to stay at home. No one was forced or required to evacuate as the situation was not sufficient enough to declare a state of emergency.
Thankfully things settled quite quickly.
The weather watch that was in place for Rotorua was not upgraded to a warning at any stage, the rising water levels were a very localised impact with much more rain falling in the catchment that includes Ngongotahā Stream than elsewhere in the district. So while in some parts of the district we were dealing with the usual matters that occur during a rain event, the situation was different in parts of the Ngongotahā area.
In total yesterday Council received 42 weather-related calls, the majority reporting surface flooding on streets and roads in various parts of the district.
During the course of yesterday Council provided various support including sending staff to Western Road to visit residents and offer support and advice. Other Council staff were working with BOPRC and contractors who were responding to a number of weather-related incidents across the district, as is usual during weather events. Rotorua Lakes Council also arranged delivery of sandbags to help residents in Western Road.
While yesterday was not a state of emergency, it was certainly a reminder of how quickly things can happen during weather events and that residents need to be on alert at these times and be ready to take action, such as self-evacuation, if needed. This is especially the case for people living near waterways. If you become concerned about your situation, self-evacuating as a precaution is a good decision to make and people can call council for assistance if needed.
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: Crashes involving roaming livestock
Enquiry
I am writing a story about a spate of four motor vehicle crashes in the Tauranga and Western BOP district involving a car hitting a roaming horse and three other crashes involving cows in the past three months.
The animals died and the vehicles were written off and while the drivers escaped major injuries, police are urging caution saying it was sheer luck someone was not seriously injured or killed.
Livestock owners and farmers are urged to keep their farm gates locked and fences secure to avoid stock roaming,
I 'm seeking comment from Rotorua Lakes Council on whether there has been any similar incidents this year in the district.
If so, how many incidents, and where and when did they happen? How many animals were injured or killed and were any motorists injured?
Is the council also concerned about the risk of serious injury and so on?
Can livestock owners be fined by the council if their stock roam onto roads or highways and endanger motorists? If so, was is the fine?
Response
We provided the following information:
Depending on the circumstances, the Impounding Act and/or Council’s Livestock Movement Bylaw and/or General Bylaw could apply in the case of roaming livestock creating a safety risk on local roads and someone could be prosecuted and face fines of up to $20,000.
We referred the reporter to the police for info/data regarding crashes in our district. We also noted that any incidents involving livestock where a motor vehicle crash has occurred would be dealt with by police so she would need to check with them regarding what legislation they apply to such incidents.
