Cyclone Gabrielle Update: Tuesday 14 February 2023

Looking at the North Island, we can certainly say that the South Waikato currently looks like quite a safe haven! All weather watches removed for our district.

Find any updates you may need below:

HOUSEHOLD COLLECTIONS

• The rubbish and/or recycling collections for tomorrow in Tokoroa will go ahead has normal; given the forecast weather.
• Our thanks to the northern communities for their understanding regarding the Monday and Tuesday collections being cancelled. A necessary decision given the gale force winds predicted.
• The skip bins we placed in Tirau and Arapuni to assist are being well used.

POWER

• Power may still be out in places. A reminder that if you’re power is out or goes out, you need to contact your power provider, not your local Council.

FACILITIES

• The Council offices in Tokoroa and Putaruru and at The Dog in Tirau are open and operating normally.
• Our seasonal pools are closed due to the weather, likely until Friday.
• Our Indoor Pool facility in Tokoroa is currently closed. It was without power for a number of hours, which requires some cleaning and remediation. Learn to Swim classes for this afternoon are cancelled. We will advise when the facility is open, likely tomorrow, normal time.
• The Events Centre also lost power but is back on now. Events scheduled for this afternoon/evening are fine to continue.
• The Tokoroa Library is open and operating normally.

ROADS

• Horahora Road is currently closed. Several trees came down in the night and others need assessing for safety and are subsequently being felled. Please use an alternative route. Residents are permitted access in and out.
• Several other local roads were intermittently closed in the night, but currently all other roads are open, some under traffic management. Drive with care. Ground is sodden. Slips can happen at any times.

THREE WATERS

• Our three water systems are operating well. The team has kept a vigilant eye, sand-bagged essential plant and equipment. Some plant is on generators while we resolve power issues, but there should be no impact for users. Drink water. Use the toilet. We should be good!

PARKS and RESERVES

• All of our parks and reserves are currently open.
• Staff are checking on reserves and Te Waihou to assess trees, fell if necessary and check on visitors.
• A tree came down at Lake Moananui, which has been made safe; no impact on users.

WELFARE

• Our district Welfare Committee is actively checking in with partners and stakeholders to identify any social or welfare impacts.

DEBRIS/CLEAN UP

Our contractors will be prioritising areas that need a clean-up over the coming days and weeks.

CIVIL DEFENCE

• State of Emergency (SoE) declarations can be confusing. In a nutshell: South Waikato DISTRICT has not declared a SoE. The Waikato REGION has and we are included. There is also a NATIONAL declaration that includes us to. Our DISTRIC has not declared an SoE because we don’t need to. Civil Defence wants to reassure people we are taking the response very seriously by throwing the weight of the region’s and country’s resources behind it. It allows strategic coordination of national resources to be used where needed.
• Council staff have been actively preparing for the weather event and remain active and vigilant.
• Several Council staff have deployed to other regions under Civil Defence to assist those areas harder hit and in coordination.