Flood gates set to open for Lower Manawatu River

The Moutoa Flood Gates will be opened later this evening or early tomorrow morning to relieve flood flows in the Lower Manawatu River.

Horizons Regional Council is continuing to monitor rain and river levels throughout the region and is liaising with emergency services and local authorities

Particularly heavy rainfall has been recorded in the upper catchment and river on the eastern side of the Manawatu Gorge are in very high flood. Horizons' incident controller Allan Cook noted that peakflows predicted in the lower Manawatu River were significantly lower that those experienced in 2004 and would be well contained within stopbank systems.

Horizons' Emergency Management staff are informing land owners to clear stock from the Moutoa Flood Plain in preparation for opening the gates.

The rainfall has affected roads throughout the Region and authorities are advising that SH56 near Opiki will be impassable from about 5pm tonight until some time tomorrow due to rising river levels.

Currently the main arterial routes in and out of Palmerston North are still open.

The public is advised to check the AA’s website, http://maps.aa.co.nz/traffic/roadwatch for information on road closures.

The public is advised to exercise caution on the roads and avoid rivers and streams which could rise rapidly.

Further information will be made available as it comes to hand.