State highway closure report More than 250 people attended four meetings on the West Coast last week to discuss the Diana Falls Slip on State Highway 6, between Haast and Makarora. PAGE 2
Deputy Lyal reappointed Wanaka councillor Lyal Cocks said he is very happy he has been chosen to continue in the role of deputy mayor of the Queenstown Lakes District Council. PAGE 3 THUR 24.10.13 - WED 30.10.13
WANAKA’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
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Something for everyone to enjoy PAGE 2 The World Championship Jet Boat Marathon was held over seven days on six rivers, including the Matukituki River and the Clutha River, last week. New Zealander John Derry was the overall winner. Regan Williamson (pictured) from New Zealand completed the Clutha River leg (Wanaka Outlet to Old Cromwell) in a time of 0:26:19 to come third in the unlimited class competition on Friday. PHOTO: WANAKA.TV
Still rocking PAGE 10
Getting prepared for floods Tim Brewster Wanaka Sun
Wedding feature PAGES 11-14
Spring training PAGE 24
Rain forecast over the next four days with a number of active fronts feeding the area’s headwaters could add significance to flood-readiness sessions planned for the Wakatipu and Wanaka area. The annual sessions organised by the Otago Regional Council and the QLDC involve a walk-around the flood prone areas of the CBD, providing businesses with information about flood risk and how to prepare for potential events. “It’s not a new message, but we are being more proactive.
We’re seeing the community being more active about information and thinking for themselves. What [items] to take and where and for how long,” ORC engineering and natural hazards director Gavin Palmer said. “The community is using their own initiative and that’s really great.” QLDC emergency management officer Jon Mitchell said flooding could occur any time but was most likely to occur in spring as seasonal weather combined with snow melt. “The risk of flooding in the Wanaka area has not changed, other than for newer buildings
that have been built to the higher floor level required in the District Plan where premises above likely flood levels are much less vulnerable. Back-flow stop valves have been added to the sewage system in the downtown area, which enables QLDC to reduce the impact of contamination in high-water events. This does mean that businesses and residents in the downtown area need to be aware that services to their premises may be interrupted even if they are not directly affected by rising lake levels. The risk of extreme weather events is a reality of living in this beautiful environment.”
Wanaka lake levels were at 278.5m above sea level yesterday afternoon, up half a metre from five days ago. Possible flooding occurs at 280masl, with the 1999 flood which affected the downtown Wanaka area reaching 281.3masl. Gavin said there was no concern over the current situation but that could change over the next few days. The “starting lake level” is often more important than the amount of rainfall as a number of fronts close behind each other can raise the lake faster than it can drain. The New Zealand Met
Service is predicting with “high confidence” (60 percent likelihood) heavy rain on the divide for Thursday from Nelson to Fiordland, followed by a series of fronts pushed through by a strong westerly flow over Labour Weekend. Over the past year the ORC introduced a service providing text alerts for flooding events, which has been particularly useful for people who have an interest or property in the area but are elsewhere. The Wanaka flood readiness information session takes place in Spencer House Mall today from 5pm to 7pm.