More slips spark late night evacuation at Omokoroa

A shed teeters on the side of a cliff in Omokoroa. Photo / John Feast

Western Bay of Plenty has suffered more slips overnight, sparking a late night evacuation at Omokoroa.

Residents of a house on Beach Grove were forced to flee their home as a safety precaution after a slip, about 30m in length, resulted in structural damage to a house.

A second slip further down the road hit a small shed.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council staff and geotechnical engineers were at the site today assessing the slips and helping affected residents.

The latest slips come after a week's worth of heavy rain. On Wednesday night suffered the first of several slips.

The slips affected an area bordering five homes, leaving waterpipes exposed on one property and threatening a shed on another.

Resident Liz McKeown said slips that had started near her home had spread to affect another four properties.

Damage to ground on her property was "too scary" for her to look at, and she preferred to let her husband investigate.

There had also been a "massive" slip in another part of Omokoroa, she said.

Liz McKeown

A Bay of Plenty District Council spokeswoman said the most significant slip appeared to be along McDonnell St, where two properties were affected.

A sewer line had broken, and both properties had lost access to wastewater services. Council staff had discussed evacuation with the property owners until the services could be restored.

Geotechnical engineers were assessing the site yesterday morning.

The spokeswoman said slips were reported from Hamurana Rd, Ruamoana Place and near Crapp Reserve. These appeared to be less severe, but one person had chosen to evacuate.

The Omokoroa Walkway was being fenced off while staff assessed the situation.

Council staff said ground throughout the district was saturated and it was possible further slips could occur in the next few days.

A spokeswoman for the other council responsible for Omokoroa, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, said the situation was being monitored, but the response was taking place at a local level.

Twelve Western Bay roads were temporarily closed yesterday, and it was unclear when they would reopen.

Road closures

Waitao Rd - slip blocking one lane
Te Puke Quarry Rd - flooding
Harbour View Rd, Omokoroa - slip blocking road
Kaiate Falls Rd - slip blocking road
Rocky Cutting Rd - slip blocking road
Te Puna Station Rd - fallen tree and slip blocking road
Otamarakau Valley Rd - slip blocking road
Stockton Rd - slip blocking road
Roydon Downs near Mystery Valley - slip blocking road
MacDougal Quarry Rd - fallen tree and slip blocking road
Maungarangi Rd - slip blocking road
Reid Road - tree down blocking road

Source: Western Bay of Plenty District Council