Flood fears easing in Waikato

11.45am

Fears of serious flooding in low-lying Waikato areas eased today although one community has already been hit hard with its school badly damaged and homes evacuated.

A flood alert for the areas remained in place today over fears the Waikato and Waipa rivers would burst their banks following heavy rain in both catchments and Lake Taupo.

Otorohanga was badly flooded and its school damaged and 12 homes evacuated after the Waipa overflowed.

However, this morning Environment Waikato said a lower than expected flow overnight through the Waipa River -- which joins the Waikato at Ngaruawahia -- has meant the rush of water down to the lower Waikato over the next day or two is likely to be less than feared.

Electricity generator Mighty River Power managed flows out of Lake Karapiro overnight to lessen the effects downstream, and the spillway at Rangiriri may not need to operate.

Environment Waikato flood response staff were hopeful that the peak may pass without any problems.

Meanwhile the Otorohanga community was picking up the pieces after floods devastated its primary school and forced some from their homes.

School board chairman Ross Loomans said the damage was heartbreaking for staff and students.

'The teachers were pretty upset yesterday. The water's been through every building up to waist-height in some areas. At the moment we're ripping up the carpet and lino."

School was cancelled for 100 students yesterday and today as the clean-up operation got underway. Silt was everywhere, Mr Loomans said.

It was hoped that classes would resume at the vacant Tihiroa School on Wednesday.

South of town, a road that acts as a tourist bus route between Otorohanga and Waitomo has been wiped out by a major landslip.

A gaping hole about 20m across has left Waitomo Valley Rd impassable, with tonnes of dirt and several trees slipping downhill toward a swollen stream.

Because of the terrain and the unstable nature of the bank it is likely the road will have to be rebuilt and re-routed.

Meanwhile farmers adjacent to the Waipa River were this morning counting the cost of the flood as they cleaned up their properties.

People living in the Te Pahu area were isolated.

Four families were trapped in their properties, with access roads submerged in metres of water.

Some children were being ferried by boat from their farms so they could still attend school.

'It's a bit of a novelty getting them to school by boat," Elaine Charleston of Waikoha Rd said. "My husband is the boatman for the week."

Other roads affected by slips and flooding over the past fortnight included SH3 Manawatu Gorge, which is expected to be closed until later this month, and SH4 between Wanganui and Raetihi.

Other Highways; 39, 43, and 54 had sections closed. Some other roads were down to one lane.

Initial estimates of damage from last month's floods have been put at well over $200 million.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday damage to roading and other infrastructure could be about $65 million.

Damage to farming operations was estimated to be up to $180 million.

Turangi was flooded when the Tongariro River burst its banks on Sunday with about 20 Turangi homes -- some holiday homes -- made uninhabitable.

The Conservation Department (DOC) has issued a warning to anglers and the public to take care around flood-ravaged rivers in the Taupo and Turangi area. Sections of river bank were washed away or made unstable. River mouths were heavy with sediment that could make wading difficult.

DOC's Tongariro National Trout Centre had all its young trout washed away by floodwaters. It would be closed for several weeks for repairs.

Some rural roads and bridges could be out of service for up to two years, Manawatu District Council said. A council spokesman said road repairs would cost about $20 million, with some bridges costing $1 million each to replace.

While most major rural roads were now passable by 4WD, back country slips could take up to two years to get to.

- NZPA, DAILY POST (ROTORUA)