Heavy rain and flooding has caused widespread damage to hundreds of properties around the Coromandel, particularly in Whangamata, Onemana, Pauanui and Tairua.

Civil Defence Controller Garry Towler says many of these properties are holiday homes and the Thames-Coromandel District Council are fielding numerous calls from absentee homeowners asking whether their holiday homes have been affected and if staff can check them out.

The most significant damage is around debris, subsidence and slips through properties, adds Garry.

'Our first priority is to assess damage that urgently threatens public health and safety, particularly on public land like roads, reserves and beaches, as well as attending to people who are in need on the ground right now.

'When it comes to holiday homes, it's better for people to come and check out their properties themselves over the coming weeks. If this can't happen then please contact our customer service team next week to discuss what we can do to help with an external assessment around damage.”

Garry is asking everyone to be aware that council's customer service team are extremely busy dealing with immediate issues caused by the weather.

'If it isn't an urgent request we're asking customers to get in touch with us early next week.”

To contact the Thames-Coromandel District Council's customer service team call 07 868 0200.

UPDATES BY AREA:

Matamata

Possible sewer blockage on Dawson Street

Te Aroha

River levels being monitored & catch pits being cleared

Issues with high wind velocities lifting roofs

Thames

Old Maratoto Road and Wires Road fords are now both open.

Thames Coast Road open but extreme caution required; surface flooding and debris.

Whiritoa

Access road access still closed

Hauraki District Council visiting when access permits

Whangamata

SH25 bypass road multiple slips – likely to remain closed today

Six damaged houses by slips

Onemana

Two damaged houses by slips

Hikuai/Pauanui

Pauanui water supply on bore until treatment plant restored.

Hikuai School Road and Puketui Road fords are both closed due to flooding.

Whitianga

Reports of damaged flood damaged house in Rangihau Road – under investigation

Kaiaua

Hauraki District Council undertaking door knock this morning

ROAD CLOSURES

Tapu-Coroglen due to slips as at 10.30am

SH25 at Whangamata due to flooding

SH25 at Whiritoa

SH25 at Whenuakite - tree has come down and is blocking both lanes.

ROAD HAZARDS

SH25 Thames Coast Road - North of Whakatete Bay

SH25 Hikuai to Tairua

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Whangamata reports of Spark outage

Vodafone: Onemana & Whangamata south

Chorus: Problems with copper network around Whangamata, still experiencing problems and will take a couple of days.

POWER OUTAGES

Tapu – 56 properties, estimated to be restored by 6pm.

WATER SUPPLY

Pauanui: Water Plant not going. Reservoir level is ok. Supply operating from bore.

THAMES HOSPITAL

All services operating

RAINFALL TOTAL FOR THE LAST 24 HOURS:

• Castle Rock 39.5mm
• Golden Cross 43.5mm
• Pinnacles 126.5mm

TIDES

Thames: Thursday, March 9, at 5.29pm (3.7m)

Whitianga: Thursday, March 9, 6.22pm (2.0m)