New Zealand / Regional

'Urgent action needed' for Dunedin homes

08:13 am on 6 June 2015

A Dunedin MP says urgent action is needed to get homes warm and dry after this week's floods.

About 175 millimetres of rain fell across the city in 24 hours, in what was a one-in-100 year flood event.

View a gallery of photos of south Dunedin during Wednesday's flooding:

Mostly fine weather was forecast for the city today, as the cleanup continued.

Many homes experienced serious flooding and city council staff have so far made more than 150 housing inspections.

Dunedin South MP Clare Curran said reports of the number of flood-damaged houses were likely to rise as people returned to their homes this weekend.

She said she was particularly worried about how people will cope in those houses through winter.

"My biggest fear is really the cold, we're getting into winter and the wetness - the fact that their houses won't dry out particularly under the floor...and that means structural issues."

Ms Curran said she had visited homes where entire floors would need to be ripped up.

Dunedin City Council's recovery manager Ruth Stokes said the recovery centre in King Edward St will be open from 10am until 4pm to co-ordinate volunteers.

She said anyone wanting to help should come to the centre.

Teams of volunteers had been visiting properties in South Dunedin, offering help where needed.

Council roading workers had also been busy trying to clear roads from mud and debris.

Roading maintenance engineer Peter Standring said there were still a number of slips and washouts, particularly on the Otago Peninsula, and drivers were being urged to take care.