St Clair golf club has opened its doors to provide shelter and support for Dunedin residents who have evacuated due to the torrential rainfall and subsequent flooding. About 100 people evacuated from their homes overnight with some sheltering at the golf club and others at Forsyth barr stadium.
Dunedin’s roads have been cut off in every direction as floodwaters made three state highways unpassable.
NZTA says State Highway 1 south of Dunedin, Waihola to Milton, north of Dunedin from Evansdale to Hampden, as well as SH85 Palmerston to Kyeburn are all closed.
Traffic is backing up in Waikouaiti and many vehicles are choosing to turn back to Dunedin.
Prime Minister Chris Luxon says Dunedin Council and first responders are doing a great job amid the weather events.
He says he wants to see a focus on the initial emergency response while wider recovery issues will be dealt with down the road.
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