Flood cost unknown

Press, 30 December 1980, Page 1

Flood cost unknown

pX* • ■" Wellington *■ v••■’X- !.•? 1-Vi • : 4 . ..... ■ ••/•v - J t .Pinners ‘ on the Heretaunga Plain" will' be'; unable accurately to assess damage - caused by , the week-end flooding until sheets of water tying r on the plain drain.away, ~ .?■ A for -the Hastings ..police saidthe ... tfinal cost could not. be. determined" until . < -the floodwaters ■ had receded.-.:; Initial damage caused to. > tfieWrertfl®L<Ata»twhga«L*tt«uro 7 River burst its banks on

"at “thousands of dollars." < But more damage will "Be caused," particularly to pipfruit-and vineyards; if the floodwater is slow to drain. . , The‘true damage "won't be-known for days,” .the , ’ spokesman., said. "If. .the" water just stays there .„ ponding, -there...will. Jbe.a lot more damage;” ~ , The?-flooding . forced J la, ..dozen; < families to - - flee 'their' homes at; Twyford, but by? last evening! most •were'.backL'.'. . • -: -The ?.- flood-inundated ' -. IOOOh* idf/ prime agricul-1

tural land which produced peas,beans,- 'tomatoes,' onions, small fruit,' sheep, deer. About 750 sheep! l and lambs died in the floodwaters but the main loss is expected to be crops. -. Hawke’s Bay Catchment' Board* workers -. were .yesterday stopping the trickle of "water still com- ■ ing through the breached stopbank and it. was estimated that 10,000 cubic ■ of fill- would be to repair the 120 m