Concerns as chemicals remain under floodwaters

11.45am

Officials in the flood-hit lower North Island fear chemicals still under water could pose health and safety risks.

In an update today, Horizons Regional Council said concerns were held about a fellmongery at Shannon, 18km northeast of Levin, where hazardous chemicals such as sulphuric acid were stored.

The fellmongery was under water, and large supplies of chemicals could not yet be moved, the update said.

Regional council controller Michael McCartney said other premises may have similar problems as people tried to get back into businesses throughout the Manawatu-Wanganui region.

Rivers were receding but not as rapidly as had been hoped and the priority was getting drainage pumps operating as some were breaking down and repairs were becoming difficult.

"We're stockpiling fill ready to plug damaged stopbanks as soon as water recedes. That can't be done at the moment and we may have a small window of opportunity if weather is fine for a period tomorrow."

Debris would be cleared from critical areas such as bridges. Roading agency Transit New Zealand had given priority to managing works on the Kiwitea Stream, about 20km northeast of Feilding, to put the river back under the bridge before it threatened properties in the area, Horizons said.

The Rangiotu area, 17km southwest of Palmerston North, was sandbagged last night with help from the Army to protect properties as ponded water flowed out of paddocks.

Residents had been concerned as swollen river water took new courses over previously dry areas.

Some health issues from contaminated water were arising in rural areas and food was being dropped off but the effort was slow as many were in isolated areas, Horizons said.

Spokeswoman Linda Thompson said the major problem was clearing substantial ponding.

"The regional council is assessing how to shorten the time needed to drain paddocks in the flooded areas.

"Opening stopbanks at this stage is not possible with more rain to come."

Regional controller Peter Davies said regional council engineering staff met residents yesterday to discuss options at Kara Creek, 2km north of Shannon, where stopbanks had been breached allowing water onto land that would normally be dry.

Quarry material was to be taken in today using army trucks and was being stockpiled ready to plug the breach as soon as weather and floodwaters permitted.

"At this stage the breach cannot be reached."

If more rain was on the way the Moutoa floodgates, near Foxton, might have to be reopened, even knowing the Moutoa basin would be flooded again.

"We're hoping to force as much water through the Manawatu River system as possible before opening the floodgates.

"The window of opportunity to make urgent emergency repairs to stopbanks is likely to be no more than a day, which is unlikely to be long enough," he said.

About 1500 phone lines remain out of service in the Manawatu and Rangitikei area, Telecom said in a statement today.

Work to restore a fibre cable washed out at the Oroua River Bridge, near Rongotea, was completed overnight with the overlay of a 300m cable. That repair would restore full capacity to Marton, Bulls and Ohakea.

Pockets of customers in more isolated areas of the region outside Wanganui, Taihape and Waverley remained without service, today's statement said.

Telecom would be able to gain a picture of the extent of damage to cabling and cabinets in those areas as power was restored and staff gained access to the sites.

- NZPA, HOROWHENUA-KAPITI CHRONICLE (LEVIN)