28 Jul 2017

Otago farmers worried about calving as flood waters recede

8:21 pm on 28 July 2017

A Dunedin volunteer support worker says farmers hit hard by flooding are now concerned about calving as waters recede.

Flooding in Henley, Dunedin

Flooding in Henley, Dunedin. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

About 220 households were evacuated across the Otago region last weekend, and the Taieri Plain suffered its third biggest flooding event since European settlement.

Taskforce Green worker Rik Wilson said volunteers had visited about 40 Taieri farmers and residents today.

He said farmers welcomed the support but were under stress because cows were starting to calf and the flood waters had not yet fully receded.

The city council said about $700,000 had been spent on flood clean up so far.

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