CIVIL DEFENCE UPDATE 8.30am Monday 6th September 2010

Civil Defence Emergency Declared for Waimakariri Area 10.03am, 4th September

UPDATED:
The strong winds overnight, has not caused further issues for residents in affected areas of Kaiapoi or Pines Beach/Kairaki.
Campers at the Riverlands Holiday Park in Double Days Road was advised to vacate during the night due to rising river levels. Evacuated people were looked after at their local welfare Centre based at the North Kaiapoi School.
There have been trees down over power lines in Oxford and Mainpower are working on this to restore power to the Oxford area.
Mobile caravans and door to door leaflet drops will used to day to assist getting messages to those people in the most affected areas. With media focusing on Christchurch City, Waimakariri residents are requiring more localized information.

KAIAPOI WELFARE CENTRE - WATER and TOILETS AVAILABLE – Water and toilet facilities will be available at the North Kaiapoi School on Williams Street.

PINES BEACH WELFARE CENTRE Open and Water and Toilets available. Location Pines Beach Hall.

IMPORTANT NOTE – RESTRICTED ACCESS Unless you reside in the Kaiapoi or Coastal beach areas, Please stay away from these areas. People travelling into the area for the sole purposes or looking at the destruction are hampering efforts of staff to restore essential services to especially the Kaiapoi area.
STAY AWAY FROM Kaiapoi and Pines Beach. Police and armed forces have been deployed to these areas to prevent entry other than to residents and essential services.

CURFEW will be back in place Sunday and Monday evenings from 6pm to 7am

CLOSURES
• Kaiapoi Pool and Kaiapoi Library/Service Centre and the Kaiapoi Wharf will be closed until further notice.
• Dudley Park Aquatic Centre is OPEN.
• Rangiora Town Hall is CLOSED.
• Double Days Road is CLOSED, Access to the motor camp is available by entry under the old Waimak bridge and going along the stop bank. Ecan have checked and opened this access point.
• The OLD WAIMAK BRIDGE is CLOSED.
• The ASHLEY BRIDGE (Cones Road) is OPEN.
• Paisley Road is CLOSED (unformed legal road runs adjacent to the railway on Lineside Rd).
• Central Business area of Kaiapoi and Williams Street/Hilton Street remains closed.
• ALL SCHOOLS in the Waimakariri District will be closed until Wednesday 8th September This is by order from the Ministry of Education.

Treat all surface water and Rivers/Lakes/Streams as contaminated

Water - Kaiapoi
• Up to 85% of Kaiapoi has water restored, but in some areas where water has gone back on we are finding further breaks that require the Council to shut off the water again to fix those breaks.
Areas where major issues still exist, and where our priority is directed, are:
o Feldwick, Cass, Sewell and Charles Streets, Grey Crescent, Palmer Place and surrounding areas
o Raven Quay, Fuller and Hilton Streets and CBD area
• Water has returned to the Courtney Drive area, but further leaks mean the supply is unreliable – these are being repaired.
• We have more than 15 gangs of contractors supported by Council staff working on the problem areas.
• Potable Water tanker is at North Kaiapoi School – bring your water containers – we have a limited amount of bottled water available
• Please conserve water and boil it prior to drinking

Water – Pines and Kairaki
• Pines Beach water has been restored, but further breaks make the supply unreliable – we hope to have increased reliability by Monday afternoon
• Working towards Kairaki Beach – we hope to have water on maybe Monday afternoon or Tuesday. Significant camp ground damage means, initially, we may connect to just one point for water to be collected from.
• Potable water is available at the Pines Beach Hall.
• Please conserve water and boil it prior to drinking

Sewer – Kaiapoi
• About 50% of sewerage operating - North Kaiapoi feeding to Beach Rd pump station is operational.
• Charles Street pump station has major damage and sewage is being spilled to Kaiapoi River
• Raven Quay pump station damaged but is being manually pumped by sucker trucks.
• Treat all surface water including Kaiapoi River, streams and water ponding on streets and properties as contaminated
• Ok to flush toilets and have a short shower but make limited use please

Sewer – Pines and Kairaki
• No sewer pump stations are working and will take some time to return
• Temporary pumps and Sucker Trucks will pump from sewer mains where possible
• Treat all surface water including Kaiapoi River, streams and water ponding on streets and properties as contaminated
• Ok to flush toilets and have a short shower but make limited use please

Building Safety
• Council has help from other Councils and consultants to assess building damage
• In the worse affected areas Council officers will move door-to-door checking whether houses are safe and sanitary - officers will say your home is either OK to live in: is unsafe and something needs fixing to make it safe before entry/occupation is allowed (eg chimney must be removed); or the building is unsafe and should not be entered/inhabited
• Owners need to check with their insurance company and lodge a claim with the Earthquake Commission –they have their own assessors. You can call the Earthquake Commission on 0800 326243 or 0800 652333 and have your insurance company policy number to discuss making a claim. You can also get information on the web side get thru website -www.getthru.govt.nz
• If you have no power, water and sewer connections on your property you may want to think of staying with friends or family.
• If you have to leave your house please turn off power, gas and water.

Kaiapoi Central Business District Area
• Cordoned off
• With a building expert advice, we will start allowing business owners back into the area to assess the damage and how they will recover – access to others/public will be prohibited.
• Countdown is operating, otherwise please stay away from CBD

Drains
• There are blockages in Courtney Stream – water levels in these area are rising. The Council is working on clearing these drains and allowing limited water to pass.
• Many other open drains and road-side drainage sumps are blocked and will need to be cleared progressively, when resources allow.

Roading
• Williams Street between Charles and Ohoka Road is closed and will be until at least Tuesday.
• Other roads are open – please limit travel in Kaiapoi and Pines Kairaki to that which is essential. All others should stay away.

Additional Port-a-loo’s are being delivered to Kaiapoi and Pines Beach.

Whilst Water has been restored to some areas, PLEASE BOIL WATER IN ALL AREAS (except Rangiora Urban) and CONSERVE water as much as possible and only flush your toilet when needed.
This includes people on the OXFORD RURAL water schemes. Please Boil water and conserve water in these rural areas.
Rangiora Urban water is safe and does not need to be boiled.

Bus Services
All bus services to the Waimakariri will not be running on Monday the 6th September
More information from http://www.metroinfo.co.nz

SAFETY AROUND THE DISTRICT
Be very careful in the Districts parks, as Tree roots may have been weakened and with strong winds forecast, there may be a danger of falling trees.

WELFARE OF ANIMALS
There are a number of private dog kennels and catteries in the area. People that have had to vacate their homes are encouraged to contact local kennels and catteries in the district.

REFUSE COLLECTION will be as normal. Kaiapoi that is due for collection on Thursday and Friday will be assessed closer to the time.

For roads information: See www.nzta.govt.nz

For further information go to www.getthru.govt.nz, www.ecan.govt.nz, www.ccc.govt.nz or www.waimakariri.govt.nz or www.selwyn.govt.nz

NEXT UPDATE DUE by 12pm Monday 6th September