28 Jul 2012

Flood training exercise in North Canterbury

1:30 pm on 28 July 2012

More than 200 residents living near the Ashley river in North Canterbury will participate in a practice emergency flood response on Saturday afternoon.

The Waimakariri District Council is holding the training exercise to prepare the community in the western residential area of Waikuku for a flood.

Council emergency response manager Brennan Wiremu says the Ashley river has a history of serious flooding.

He says about 100 people were on the banks of the river on Saturday morning, learning how to build flood protection.

Mr Wiremu says on Saturday afternoon residents in the area will get a knock on the door from a civil defence volunteer, and can follow through with the emergency response exercise if they wish.