Recovery Update: Progress on district repairs and clean-up

Published on 15 July 2026

Further recovery work completed across the district during flood recovery phase.

Waitaki District Council teams and contractors continue the recovery work following last week’s weather event as improved weather dries out parks and reserves and remediation work takes place.

Nine roads around the District remain closed due to damaged surfaces, with the remainder open thanks to work from Council staff, Whitestone Contracting Ltd and SouthRoads.

Waterfront Road along the Oamaru Harbour remains single-lane, and the rail line is closed as per NZTA the rail safety regulator’s request. The Recovery Manager is currently working with geotechnical engineers, specialist contractors and and Oamaru Steam and Rail Society Inc. to assess the extent of the instability and identify options to remove the risk to road users and rail operations.

Green By Nature, Council’s parks and reserves contractor, has been busy filling washouts and inspecting tracks in the district – having maintained their care of the Oamaru Public Gardens during the last week.

Oamaru Cemetery has now re-opened after Green By Nature addressed soil slumping at sites. If visitors notice any issues with plots they are visiting, please report them to Council via the Antenno App or emailing service@waitaki.govt.nz

All Council sports fields will be open for use this coming weekend.

Conserve and Boil Water Notices

Oamaru is still under a Conserve Water status as the Ardgowan Dam is refilled.

This supply serves communities from Oamaru North to Moeraki, including Weston, Enfield, Kakanui, Maheno, Herbert and Hampden.

Lower Waitaki is still on a Boil Water Notice due to high turbidity, however the Conserve Water Notice has now been lifted.

People in this area should continue to boil drinking water, water used for food preparation, brushing teeth and preparing infant formula, and should also limit water use to essential needs.

ENDS

media@waitaki.govt.nz