POWER OUTAGE OMAKAU/ST BATHANS - bridge closure update
Update - Saturday 12 October 2024 - morning
Ida Valley Omakau Road OPEN.
Aurora and Delta were able to relocate the power pole yesterday and remove the old one enabling the temporary stabilisation of the pier and abutment to be carried out.
The site is set up with a 30km speed restriction and will be monitored daily for cracking. Teams will be working in this area for a few weeks completing further rock armouring and the permanent pier/abutment stabilisation works.
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Update - Friday 11 October 2024 - 1.45pm:
High groundwater levels have caused complications digging the hole for the new pole, and the outage time has been extended until between 4pm and 5pm.
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Aurora Energy will be turning off the power at Omakau between 9am – 3pm on Friday (11 October), and this will affect Omakau and St Bathans residents.
This is so the Council can carry out remedial works near the bridge over the Manuherekia River on Ida Valley-Omakau Road, where the recent high river levels have eroded the riverbank. We have plans to make the riverbank more resilient to future high river levels.
To do this, the power pole (pictured) needs to be moved, so Aurora will take the opportunity to relocate it further from the riverbank. A power outage is needed to put the new pole in place and string new power lines between several poles across the river.
- Omakau
One outage from 9 AM to 3 PM, or
One brief outage of up to 30 minutes at around 3 PM
- St Bathans
Two outages of up to 30 minutes each at around 9 AM and 3 PM
A generator will be in use at the new Omakau zone substation to provide alternative power to as many people in the township as possible, however some people may be without power due to the network configuration where the pole replacement will take place.
To minimise how long the power will be out, Aurora contractors will dig the new hole for the power pole in advance and prepare the new pole before it is installed.
Both the Council and Aurora are aware that any power outage is inconvenient and appreciate it’s happening during the school holidays, and thanks these communities for their patience as we work to do the remedial work needed on the bridge and move the power pole to a new position further away from the river.