Businesses grateful for help as cleanup work begins

26 Ross Pl Cafe owner Liz McLaughlin begins cleaning after her business was affected by the floods in Lawrence.Photo / Samuel White

It will be a waiting game for Lawrence businesses as they figure out the extent of the damage and wider impact from the floods at the weekend.

Floodwaters from the heavy rainfall on Friday affected several businesses in Ross Pl.
26 Ross Pl Cafe owner Liz McLaughlin spent yesterday cleaning and assessing the damage to her business.

The entire floor space was drenched and water was 32cm deep at the front of the cafe.
She was waiting on an assessment from the Clutha District Council to determine whether she would be able to reopen soon.

The business was fully insured.

While it was difficult to process, Mrs McLaughlin had accepted there was nothing that could have been done and the flooding was inevitable.

"You can't prevent it. It was going to come in anyway,'' she said.

Heaters were being used to reduce the moisture in the walls.

Mrs McLaughlin said the Fire Service was incredible as it helped deliver sandbags to local businesses on the Saturday.

Wild Walnut cafe was hit the hardest of the businesses in Ross Pl.

Owner Sue Bertram said the extent of the damage was "slowly unravelling itself''.
She said she became emotional after discovering the extent of the damage.

"Walking in and just seeing everything in such a shambles ... it's hard to keep the tears back.''

Ms Bertram was unable to reopen the cafe any time soon.

Water had seeped in and reached depths of up to 60cm, she said.

Landslips on State Highway 8 stopped her and her husband from getting to Lawrence when the flooding began on Friday, as they lived at Waitahuna.

The pair managed to get to Lawrence early on Saturday, where they worked hard to protect the cafe from damage and sandbag the area.

However, the flooding was extensive.

"We've been here for 13 years and never seen anything like it.''

Ms Bertram said the community had been phenomenal.

People provided baked goods, food and diesel heaters to help dry out the property.

"From that point of view, it was incredible ... That was the silver lining.''

The council issued a statement about the recovery yesterday.

Welfare people, building and health inspectors checked affected houses and properties and provided support where necessary.

The council was aware of sewer overflows on some properties in Milton and Lawrence and floodwaters should be treated as contaminated as a precaution.

Hydrated lime was available at Lawrence and Milton Service Centres.

A conserve water notice remained in place for Rural Water Schemes Balmoral 1, 2, Tuapeka, as well as for the Waihola township.

Five households in Milton were unable to return to their properties yesterday.

People whose properties were damaged by flooding could register online with the council.

Roading contractors were assessing damage to roads and updating road closures. The advice to drive to the conditions still applied.

samuel.white@odt.co.nz