Whakatane district residents and businesses - including those in Edgecumbe - are strongly urged not to hose or wash mud and silt into drains and the stormwater system as the post-flood clean-up continues.
Civil Defence Controller Paula Chapman said it was understandable residents wanted to wash mud from homes, driveways, and gardens however mud and silt in the system may block pipes and cause flooding when further rain comes.
"This message doesn't just apply to Edgecumbe - the whole district's stormwater system depends on it being free of mud and silt," she said.
Residents are advised to pile mud and silt on the berms outside or near their properties as it would be collected over the next few days.
The Whakatane Transfer Station is full of rubbish and debris - mostly storm-related - and residents are urged to delay their deliveries until tomorrow at the earliest to allow the staff to clear today's input and make more space.
The Civil Defence Centre that has been operating in the Whakatane Memorial Hall is today moving to the Edgecumbe Hall contact centre. All current services would continue to be available and residents should go here for assistance in the first instance.
Rautahi Marae Civil Defence Centre will transition to Edgecumbe tomorrow at midday.
Tankers of drinking water will be at the following locations by 3pm today and people are asked to bring their own containers to fill:
- Ruatoki - at Ruatoki School
- Taneatua - by the school, and by the skate park
- Waimana - by the shops
- Edgecumbe - tankers by the Riverslea Mall and by the War Memorial Hall.
Horizons Energy is continuing to work to restore power to outlying areas of the district following the passage of Cyclone Cook. While some 20,000 properties were without power yesterday as of this morning the number was reduced to 1500 with further properties expected back on today.
Water, sewage, and power is back to normal in Whakatane town but people are urged to continue to conserve water and do not flush if you are elsewhere in the district.
Whakatane district residents and businesses (except those in Whakatane town, Coastlands, Ohope and Matata) are urged to continue to conserve water until power is fully restored to pump stations around the district which will enable reservoirs to refill.
Residents are also urged to flush toilets sparingly until wastewater pump stations are back in action.
Although water has been restored to much of Edgecumbe people should continue to conserve water as the network remains fragile and a boil-water notice remains in place.
The boil-water notice also remains in place in Taneatua.
For further enquiries, please contact Whakatane Civil Defence Public Information Manager on 07 306 2012
