Heavy rain causes minor flooding in Nelson

Press, 27 December 1985, Page 2

Heavy rain causes minor flooding in Nelson

Nelson reporter A very heavy fall of rain — a cloudburst, according to some — flooded certain areas of Nelson soon after 11 a.m. yesterday. The rain, coming on top of heavy rain overnight and at full tide when creeks were already fairly high, inundated roads around and between St Vincent Street and Vanguard Street and properties in this area. The flooding, however, was nowhere near as severe as the floods which caused widespread damage in Nelson in January this year. The worst-iut area was at the intersection of Vanguard Street and Gloucester Street, an area very prone to flooding. Floodwaters almost entered Liquorland and they were lapping at the bottom step of the Post Boy Hotel across the road. There was also surface flooding in Parere Street and through properties in that area. The floodwaters flowed through the yards of C. E. Gibbons, Ltd, and into

the Newmans Group yards. The Weather Office at Nelson Airport reported that 25.6 mm of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9 a.m. yesterday and another 31.9 mm then fell to midday. Two heavy falls, one of 16.3 mm between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. and another of about 13mm at 11 a.m., were reported. Nelson seems set to record one of its wettest Decembers. So far this month to 9 a.m. yesterday 177 mm has been reported on 14 days, well over the 77mm average for the month. Nelson Catchment Board staff reported little flooding or problems in areas outside Nelson City. The $26,000 spent on drainage at New Zealand’s biggest holiday park at Tahunanui Beach prevented heavy flooding there. A little water lay about yesterday and there were some soggy areas but there was no real problem, the manager, Mr Keith Hall, reported.