Wild weather reaches South Island
Strong winds hit the top of the South Island late this morning, blowing roofs off homes near Picton, and are expected to hit other parts of the South Island later today. It follows a day of wild weather in the North Island in which saw heavy rain closed numerous roads in Waikato and Bay of Plenty and gale-force winds dislodged roofs and trees in Taranaki, Manawatu and the Kapiti Coast.
A mini-tornado hit Waikawa Bay, near Picton, about 10.10am today, ripping roofs off three homes, a Fire Service southern communications centre spokesman told.
The rest of the South Island was relatively unscathed, though Met Service had issued a gale warning for the valleys of Buller and Westland north of Hokitika. Heavy winds are forecast to continue until about midday tomorrow.
In the top of the North Island, Inspector Shawn Rutene of the police northern communications centre said flooding and slips were causing great difficulty.
The latest affected area was Broadlands Road, northeast of Taupo, where a large tree fell across the road, bringing down power lines.
"The road is fully blocked and with gale-force winds still in the area it's likely to be blocked for the next 12 hours," Mr Rutene said.
There were also blocks on roads near Whitianga, Huntly, Ngaruawahia, Waihi and Matamata.
Police had earlier reported slips blocking Belk Road North at Omanawa, 10km southwest of Tauranga, and at Muriwai Terrace in Whakatane.
Mr Rutene said drivers should consider delaying trips on State Highway 25 just south of Whitianga between Wade Rd and the 309 Rd, where surface flooding covered nearly half the road.
"We are requesting that the public only travel if they need to, and if they do, they should take extreme caution," he said.
Further south on State Highway 25, there were reports of rocks "as big as a dinner plate" on the road near Waihi, Mr Rutene said. Roads in Huntly was blocked, and flooding caused one vehicle to veer left on a bridge at Taihoa, near Matamata.
"The main thing is to drive to the conditions if they do need to drive, and if possible they should think about stopping, having a cup of tea and waiting it out," Mr Rutene said
A heavy rain warning was issued for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay tonight and tomorrow. Up to 150 to 200mm of rain was expected in the ranges around Gisborne and Hawke's Bay through tomorrow and Thursday, MetService said, while strong winds were expected for eastern Bay of Plenty.
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A mini-tornado hit Waikawa Bay, near Picton, about 10.10am today, ripping roofs off three homes, a Fire Service southern communications centre spokesman told.
The rest of the South Island was relatively unscathed, though Met Service had issued a gale warning for the valleys of Buller and Westland north of Hokitika. Heavy winds are forecast to continue until about midday tomorrow.
In the top of the North Island, Inspector Shawn Rutene of the police northern communications centre said flooding and slips were causing great difficulty.
The latest affected area was Broadlands Road, northeast of Taupo, where a large tree fell across the road, bringing down power lines.
"The road is fully blocked and with gale-force winds still in the area it's likely to be blocked for the next 12 hours," Mr Rutene said.
There were also blocks on roads near Whitianga, Huntly, Ngaruawahia, Waihi and Matamata.
Police had earlier reported slips blocking Belk Road North at Omanawa, 10km southwest of Tauranga, and at Muriwai Terrace in Whakatane.
Mr Rutene said drivers should consider delaying trips on State Highway 25 just south of Whitianga between Wade Rd and the 309 Rd, where surface flooding covered nearly half the road.
"We are requesting that the public only travel if they need to, and if they do, they should take extreme caution," he said.
Further south on State Highway 25, there were reports of rocks "as big as a dinner plate" on the road near Waihi, Mr Rutene said. Roads in Huntly was blocked, and flooding caused one vehicle to veer left on a bridge at Taihoa, near Matamata.
"The main thing is to drive to the conditions if they do need to drive, and if possible they should think about stopping, having a cup of tea and waiting it out," Mr Rutene said
A heavy rain warning was issued for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay tonight and tomorrow. Up to 150 to 200mm of rain was expected in the ranges around Gisborne and Hawke's Bay through tomorrow and Thursday, MetService said, while strong winds were expected for eastern Bay of Plenty.
Vancouver Island railway running out of steam
After 125 years of continuous service, Vancouver Island’s E&N Railway has reached the end of the line unless senior levels of government step forward with millions in funding for much-needed repairs, railway advocates say.
“This is the moment of truth,” said Graham Bruce, executive director of the Island Corridor Foundation, which owns the 225-kilometre stretch of track. “It’s either a rebirth and a renewal and a future or it’s all over for the E&N.
After an inspection by provincial officials earlier this month, the railway’s operator, Southern Railway of Vancouver Island, announced the indefinite suspension of passenger service between Victoria and Courtenay until “significant infrastructure improvements” can be made.
Mr. Bruce said the decaying railway’s future hinges on a $15-million federal-provincial infrastructure grant the foundation applied for last October, money that would cover the cost of replacing more than 100,000 railway ties over the next year.
“Without a commitment for the $15-million investment by late spring, the Island Corridor Foundation will have to develop a plan for an orderly shutdown of rail service,” he said.
The ICF was hoping to receive funding approval by November, but the application has been slowed by the B.C. Liberal leadership race and now a federal election, said Mr. Bruce, a former B.C. cabinet minister.
Last weekend, mayors gathered at the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities Conference in Sidney passed an emergency resolution demanding a meeting with B.C. Premier Christy Clark and Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom.
“It’s a critical situation,” said AVICC chairman Joe Stanhope, who also chairs the Nanaimo Regional District. “Once you start letting it deteriorate it's a done deal. You can never catch up.”
Staff at the Transportation Ministry said Monday that Mr. Lekstrom has expressed a willingness to meet with the parties, although the minister’s office has yet to receive formal notification of the request.
Opened in 1886, the E&N takes it name from the original section of track running between Esquimalt and Nanaimo. The CPR purchased the E&N in 1905 and extended the tracks to Courtenay, and added spurs to Port Alberni and Lake Cowichan.
The ICF, a non-profit society, took ownership of the tracks in 2006. Last year, about 40,000 people used the VIA Rail passenger service between Victoria and Courtenay, while the volume of freight service north of Duncan was “800 to 900 cars,” Mr. Bruce said.
A detailed study undertaken this winter revealed that problems with the aging tracks were far worse than anticipated, said Don McGregor, general manager of Southern Railway of Vancouver Island.
Freight traffic continues to move on the E&N, although train speeds have been lowered to ensure safety, he added.
Efforts to provide passenger service on the E&N this spring were also hampered by Victoria city council’s recent decision to scrap the railway crossing proposed as part of the new Johnson Street Bridge project.
Ten days ago, city engineers declared the old railway crossing unsafe and left it in a raised position to facilitate work on the bridge replacement project. With no railway crossing on the new bridge, city officials admit the historic E&N terminus at the foot of Johnson Street has seen its last train.
Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan, who placed third in this weekend’s NDP leadership race, called the situation “profoundly unfortunate.”
“The province really has to grapple with this. It’s a non-partisan issue, it’s about protecting a vital piece of transportation infrastructure,” said Mr. Horgan, whose suburban Victoria riding includes parts of the E&N.
Mr. Bruce said if funding comes through by the end of May, it’s possible that passenger service between Victoria and Nanaimo could resume by September.
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“This is the moment of truth,” said Graham Bruce, executive director of the Island Corridor Foundation, which owns the 225-kilometre stretch of track. “It’s either a rebirth and a renewal and a future or it’s all over for the E&N.
After an inspection by provincial officials earlier this month, the railway’s operator, Southern Railway of Vancouver Island, announced the indefinite suspension of passenger service between Victoria and Courtenay until “significant infrastructure improvements” can be made.
Mr. Bruce said the decaying railway’s future hinges on a $15-million federal-provincial infrastructure grant the foundation applied for last October, money that would cover the cost of replacing more than 100,000 railway ties over the next year.
“Without a commitment for the $15-million investment by late spring, the Island Corridor Foundation will have to develop a plan for an orderly shutdown of rail service,” he said.
The ICF was hoping to receive funding approval by November, but the application has been slowed by the B.C. Liberal leadership race and now a federal election, said Mr. Bruce, a former B.C. cabinet minister.
Last weekend, mayors gathered at the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities Conference in Sidney passed an emergency resolution demanding a meeting with B.C. Premier Christy Clark and Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom.
“It’s a critical situation,” said AVICC chairman Joe Stanhope, who also chairs the Nanaimo Regional District. “Once you start letting it deteriorate it's a done deal. You can never catch up.”
Staff at the Transportation Ministry said Monday that Mr. Lekstrom has expressed a willingness to meet with the parties, although the minister’s office has yet to receive formal notification of the request.
Opened in 1886, the E&N takes it name from the original section of track running between Esquimalt and Nanaimo. The CPR purchased the E&N in 1905 and extended the tracks to Courtenay, and added spurs to Port Alberni and Lake Cowichan.
The ICF, a non-profit society, took ownership of the tracks in 2006. Last year, about 40,000 people used the VIA Rail passenger service between Victoria and Courtenay, while the volume of freight service north of Duncan was “800 to 900 cars,” Mr. Bruce said.
A detailed study undertaken this winter revealed that problems with the aging tracks were far worse than anticipated, said Don McGregor, general manager of Southern Railway of Vancouver Island.
Freight traffic continues to move on the E&N, although train speeds have been lowered to ensure safety, he added.
Efforts to provide passenger service on the E&N this spring were also hampered by Victoria city council’s recent decision to scrap the railway crossing proposed as part of the new Johnson Street Bridge project.
Ten days ago, city engineers declared the old railway crossing unsafe and left it in a raised position to facilitate work on the bridge replacement project. With no railway crossing on the new bridge, city officials admit the historic E&N terminus at the foot of Johnson Street has seen its last train.
Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan, who placed third in this weekend’s NDP leadership race, called the situation “profoundly unfortunate.”
“The province really has to grapple with this. It’s a non-partisan issue, it’s about protecting a vital piece of transportation infrastructure,” said Mr. Horgan, whose suburban Victoria riding includes parts of the E&N.
Mr. Bruce said if funding comes through by the end of May, it’s possible that passenger service between Victoria and Nanaimo could resume by September.
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