Source: Radio New Zealand
Phillip Maybury and Natasha Robinson have been helping catch supplies. RNZ / Mary Argue
A “lifeline” road gouged out by raging floodwaters in southern Wairarapa is a “nightmare” scenario, that has split families and forced residents to scramble for supplies.
Several rural and coastal settlements on the road to Cape Palliser and Lake Ferry are completely isolated after a metres-wide gap opened at the Turanganui River bridge on Lake Ferry Road.
The road, which has been eaten away in large chunks, is due to be assessed by civil engineers on Wednesday morning, and RNZ understands the hope is to reopen it by the end of the day.
Torrential rain and gale force winds earlier this week left thousands without power and caused widespread flooding and damage across Wairarapa.
A human chain has formed to deliver food and medicine to families isolated on Wairarapa’s southern coast. RNZ / Mary Argue
Lake Ferry local Sharon Durrant told RNZ she mostly slept through the stormy weather that hit overnight on Sunday and although the community was cut off by flooding the next day, the real impact was not felt until Tuesday, when the bridge road washed out.
Durrant said the river had diverted, cutting through the single lane bridge where it meets the road.
She said while locals were “well-aware” of the flood risk at the Turanganui River bridge, it was “by far the worst they’d ever seen”.
“I was a little bit shocked at the way in which the water had ripped the tar seal off the road.
“It’s always in the back of our mind, like, if that bridge goes that’s the lifeline to the southern Wairarapa coastline. It’s a lifeline, and it’s our biggest nightmare.”
A washout on Lake Ferry Road has split families and left cut-off residents scrambling for supplies. RNZ / Mary Argue
Durrant’s son was likely one of the last people to cross the road before it gave way shortly after 5.15am on Tuesday.
“Not more than five minutes later another person tried to go through but obviously stopped and had a look,” Durrant said.
Half the road had fallen away, but a strip remained, she said. The call was made to reassess at daylight.
“Within three hours that whole part of the road had gone. It happens really, really quickly and in hindsight my son’s actually lucky he got across there.”
Her son was stuck on the wrong side for the night, but by Tuesday afternoon a human chain had formed to ferry supplies from one side to the other.
Durrant said before she knew it, she had become the liaison for the community ordering in eggs, milk, bread, nappies and beer, as well as medicine.
The washout on Lake Ferry Road. RNZ / Mary Argue
Stream kaitiaki and Mountains to Sea catchment coordinator Natasha Robinson spoke to RNZ after her fourth shift catching supplies on the edge of the river next to the bridge – which she believed was past its prime.
“I’ve been collecting supplies through this channel from people on the other side, just to get supplies to the old ones and to get medical supplies as well. It’s the only way.”
The chain did not stop there, with food crossing farmland to get to some families still cut off by severe flooding, Durrant said.
“I actually went down there [to the bridge] to get the milk and bread to put it in the letter box so another farmer could take it over to them.”
Durrant said they were “blessed to have such a good community” and the washout had highlighted some gaps in their disaster relief plan.
She wanted to see a wire established to ferry supplies in case the bridge road failed again, however she said it was not the only bridge of concern.
Locals told RNZ the bridge at Hurupi Stream – also known as the ‘banana bridge’ – on Cape Palliser Road had also been undermined, with photos showing significant erosion where it meets the road.
Residents are also concerned about a second bridge undermined by floodwaters at Hurupi Stream. Supplied / Sharon Durrant
A South Wairarapa District Council spokesperson said there were two bridges in the area in need of repair, but with the first assessements set for Wednesday morning could not put a timeframe on a fix.
“We are asking people not to attempt to cross the rivers or use the bridges.”
They said Wairarapa Emergency Operations Centre was working “with partners to establish reconnection and supplies”, with police delivering supplies to Kohunui Marae in Pirinoa.
“Welfare staff from the centre have also attended to assess needs and help as required.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
