A timeline has been produced indicating when the peak of the Southland flood will hit certain areas along the Oreti River.

Environment Southland and Civil Defence staff are monitoring the rush of water as the bulge moves downstream. Latest projections show the river’s peak will hit Centre Bush at about 11 o’clock tonight, Winton between 2am and 4am, and Wallacetown between 10am and midday tomorrow.

Incident Controller Ken Swinney says rain is still falling over much of the region. He says upstream of the peak there has been less rain and water levels are dropping, but in front of the peak – down towards the coast – the water level is still rising as the bulge moves down the system.

Mr Swinney says Environment Southland is also monitoring the Makarewa River as it feeds into a pond beside Invercargill Airport.

He says there is NO state of emergency in Southland.

Landlines are again partially operational in the Te Anau area after being cut earlier by floodwaters. However about 100 people around Whitestone Bridge on State Highway 94 still can not make calls. Telco provider Chorus says it is now working to restore mobile services.

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