Cracks in Lighthouse Road, Akaroa which led to some houses being evacuated due to landslip fears. Photo: Christchurch City Council
A decision to lift or extend the state of emergency for Banks Peninsula has been delayed because of wet weather forecast later in the week.
The region has been in a state of emergency for almost a week after being drenched by heavy rain that caused widespread flooding and slips in Canterbury and closed State Highway 75 for days.
No homes were red or yellow-stickered in Christchurch, or on Banks Peninsula, but four homes were evacuated as a precaution in Akaroa because of a slip on Lighthouse Road.
Christchurch City Council controller Anne Colombus said the decision had been delayed until Thursday because staff wanted to better understand rain forecast for Friday.
She said a change in the weather could trigger further land instability.
"Lighthouse Road remains an active slip site, which we are monitoring closely for any movement in the land. No changes have been recorded since yesterday, but wet weather could easily change this," she said.
"Until we have a better understanding of what's happening with the land, it is currently not safe for people to use this road or people live closely nearby.
"We are working closely with affected property owners and businesses and are also looking at alternative access options for properties affected by the closure of Lighthouse Road.
"There have been a number of slips of varying sizes that our contractors have been tiding up and further wet weather could exacerbate this."
Mayor Phil Mauger declared a state of emergency for both Christchurch and Banks Peninsula last Thursday, with the city recording its fourth wettest day on record, although it was lifted in Christchurch on Sunday.
Neighbouring Selwyn District Council also declared a state of emergency last Thursday, which was lifted the following day. About 50 properties were affected by flooding, with seven homes yellow-stickered, mostly in Doyleston, Leeston and Southbridge.
Homes and businesses in Little River were swamped by floodwaters after more than 200mm of rain fell on the peninsula.
Farmland was submerged and some properties in Akaroa were inundated with sewage.
The community of Little River was hard hit by flooding. Photo: Christchurch City Council
Mauger marked the council 10-out-of-10 for its handling of last week's storm although he conceded people in Little River would not give glowing reviews of the response.
Little River residents were critical of the council, saying if Lake Forsyth had been opened to the the sea earlier the flooding could have been mitigated.
The lake was opened on Friday night, when locals said water drained from the settlement as if a plug had been pulled from a bath.
The council said it would review the decision not to open Lake Forsyth sooner.
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