Otago flood eases but effect far from over

Press, 9 June 1980, Page 1

Otago flood eases but effect far from over

’A Dunedin The peak of the Otago floods had'.passed, said the area’s Civil Defence controller (Mr K. W. Fraser) last evening. Lives were no longer at stake. He did not believe that water levels on the Taieri Plains, would drop significantly until at least Thursday, By then it was hoped to start pumping water away from the worst-hit areas.

Most of Otago returned to normal yesterday with the restoration of communications and a drop in river levels but continuing high flows in the Taieri River, further inflows from the Waipori River and high tides combined to pour further water on to the southern end of the plains.

Dunedin Airport, including costly radar equipment and the terminal buildings, remained flooded.

Mr Fraser could give no indication when the 1400 people shifted late last week from the Taieri Plains would be allowed back to their homes. He did not see security as a problem. The police were making periodic patrols through the evacuated area and the Ministry ‘of Transport was manning road blocks round the clock.

Dunedin Airport is expected to be closed for at least 10 days until the water-ruined radar and electronic equipment is

either replaced or repaired. The airport’s in-strument-landing system was destroyed along- with the precision radar when water levels rose to inundate the below-ground-level installations. „

The airport-based Dalhoff and King Aviation, Ltd, lost aircraft and helicopter parts valued and more than $1 million in the flood. A large workshop and storeroom had about Im of water in it.

Air New Zealand will use Oamaru Airport for as long as Dunedin Airport is out of use. Passengers will be carried by bus between Oamaru and Dunedin. ;

State highway 1 throughout Otago is now open and most road and rail services out of Dunedin are returning to normal.

The Otago Automobile Association said -thatroads still closed included, State highway 8 between • Cromwell and Clyde at the Cromwell gorge and State highway 87 between: Mosgiel and Outran) at Out- i ram and between Hyde and Kokonga at Kokonga. Extreme care was recommended on State highway 85 between Palmerston and Kyeburn and Outran) and Middlemarch.

The Cromwell Gorge is closed indefinitely by a: big slip and the road at ■ Oatram will be closed for i several days until a Bailey 1 bridge is set up across -the ■ Taieri River, as will the' road at Kokonga until; bridge approaches are repaired.