ŌCHT tenants suggest the damaging weather has cut a swathe across our city.
Water ponds at Vincent Place as more than 24 hours of heavy rain takes its toll in Christchurch.
More than half the 140 calls received by our Housing Champions before 2pm today were about what wind and rain were doing in our communities.
The elements combined to blow water under roofing iron and beneath doors. A tree fell and a fence toppled on waterlogged ground.
Housing champion Ellie says some callers reported flooding over shared driveways and car parks. Some said their footpaths were under water.
The calls came from all over the city, from the eastern suburbs to Bishopdale, from Papanui to Woolston, and many places in between.
Allison Courts takes a spray as mid-afternoon traffic makes its way south on Brougham St.
As our Housing Champions answered calls, our tenancy team contacted key people at every ŌCHT complex to check on safety and the weather’s impact.
Tenancy team member Faye says people at almost all complexes were contacted by lunchtime. If necessary, those who could not reached by phone would be visited by car.
Many of these calls became requests for urgent maintenance. Ellie says more than 60 jobs were logged before 2pm.
ŌCHT’s contractors are still flat out responding to priority calls (we have to tackle the most urgent jobs first). Getting to all properties will take some time.
Our contracts manager, Alana, urged tenants to give us a call on 0800 624 456 to report rain-related damage to your home or complex.
What can you do?
If water is getting into your home, please isolate the problem and call us on 0800 624 456 as soon as you can.
- Place buckets under ceiling drips and protect the carpet beneath with a towel
- Lay towels along the bottom of doors or windows if water is getting in
- If water is getting near your appliances, please turn your appliance off and call us on 0800 624 456 straight away. Do not touch your appliance if it’s been affected by water.
Please be ready to describe the damage to our call centre team. This will help us get our contractors to where they are needed most urgently.
Thank you for helping us keep an eye on the weather’s impact on your ŌCHT communities. And please stay warm and dry!
Specific advice
Akaroa: People living in Akaroa are being asked to conserve water. The Christchurch City Council says the town’s drinking water is now being sourced from bores until the streams can be used again. There are no contamination issues with the drinking water at Akaroa so boiling is not currently needed.
ŌCHT has homes on Bruce Terrace and Rue Viard.
The high tide has caused flooding in Akaroa township. The council has contractors and staff on the ground and are working to ease the flooding.
Remember, if we need to contact you about an emergency situation at your complex, we’ll give you a phone call, a text message or we’ll visit.
Travel plans?
Pages Rd, one of the main routes to ŌCHT homes in New Brighton, is partially flooded from water ponding in the Avon Red Zone. Parts of New Brighton Rd, near Reg Stillwell Place, are also closed.
Travel’s not advised but if you have to hit the road, please keep an eye out for road closure signs.
If you have to drive through flood waters, please drive slowly to avoid pushing water onto nearby properties.
Our friends at the Christchurch City Council say we shouldn’t walk or bike through floodwaters as they could be contaminated with wastewater.
ROAD CLOSURES
These roads in Christchurch City will remain closed at least until 9am tomorrow morning (June 1).
Avondale Rd – New Brighton Rd/Bassett St to Breezes Rd
Avonside Dr – Retreat Rd to Woodham Rd
Avonside Dr – Wainoni Rd to Torlesse St
Aynsley Tce – Centaurus Rd to Opawa Rd
Clarendon Tce – Full length
Cumnor Tce – Full length
Eastern Tce – Tennyson St to Malcom Ave
Eglinton St – Breezes Rd to Woolley St
Ford Rd – Opawa Rd to Newberry Rd
Green Lane – Full length
Hunter Tce – Malcolm Ave to end
Maces Rd/Ruru Rd – at the intersection
McCormacks Bay Rd – Full length
New Brighton Rd – Bower Ave to Pages Rd/Hawke St
Newport St – Emlyn Pl to Wainoni Rd
Oakridge Tce – Wales St to Nicholls St
Owles Tce – Hardy St to Collingwood St
Richardson Tce – Full length
River Rd – North Parade to Banks Ave
Woolley St – Avondale Rd to Waratah St