'Extreme weather event' in Auckland causes significant damage to buildings, marinas and boats

Tuesday, 13 August 2019

Repairing storm damage to The Cloud in downtown Auckland is likely to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, Mayor Phil Goff says.

Auckland has experienced two nights of storms, causing significant damage to buildings, marinas and boats.

A large catamaran flipped over and a superyacht was torn from its moorings at Westhaven Marina on Monday night, with its manager saying the power of nature was 'unbelievable'.

Coastguard NZ was also sent to the Viaduct Harbour and city wharves to assist police with securing vessels.

**READ MORE:

* 'Mini tornado' hits Auckland CBD, more storms on the way

* More 'severe' thunderstorms for upper North Island after house struck by lightning, roofs damaged

* North Island hit by thunderstorm, strong winds and heavy rain**

On Tuesday morning, Mayor Phil Goff visited The Cloud on Queen's Wharf which lost part of its roof in Sunday's storm, and Shed10 that lost its roller doors.

Goff said it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair the damage.

Staff worked overnight to keep the area as safe as possible, he said.

One staff member had minor injuries after being thrown across the room in Shed10, he said.

A cruise ship was expected next Sunday and the plan was to fix it up so that there would be no risk to people, Goff said.

'We want to get the venue up and running as quickly as possible,' he said.

'Shed10 was built to sustain extraordinary conditions.

'No one estimated we'd get winds like this… it's an extreme weather event.'

The mayor said there was some connection between these events and global warming.

Westhaven Marina manager Kevin Lidgard said the marina, which holds about 2000 boats, was hit hard on Monday night.

The 'tornado' came through around 10pm, flipping the catamaran and breaking the lines on the super yacht.

Lidgard said about 45 vessels were damaged or broke their moorings, and there was damage to some marina infrastructure which was being isolated and checked.

The catamaran flipped into the air and over a pontoon, landing upside down near the marina's fuelling jetty.

The super yacht was 'laid flat' during the storm. Its lines broke and it drifted into the harbour, Lidgard said.

There were no reports of injuries, he said, and the team has isolated any potential dangers.

A notice has been sent out to berth holders for them to come and check their boats.

Repairers have also been called in.

Lidgard said the owner of the catamaran was 'gutted'. The power of nature was unbelievable, he said.

Fullers360 said one of its ferries had minor damage but all staff and crew are safe.

'Due to debris from the storm, services across the harbour Tuesday morning were operating at reduced speeds and keeping wakes down as advised by the harbourmaster,' chief executive Mike Horne said.

Five services were disrupted on Tuesday morning as a result of the storm.

'The wild weather meant Osprey could not travel safely back to Auckland after the last Birkenhead service Monday night, so the first Birkenhead service operated by taxi this morning,' Horne said.

'The first four Stanley Bay services this morning were cancelled due to Harbourcat needing repairs after the tornado caused an incident fuelling.'

Horne said the ferry's fuel line was ripped out of the tank. It will undergo maintenance for a broken window and be out of service until repairs are complete.

Coastguard duty officer Hemi Manaena said its Mechanics Bay team were alerted to a 'serious weather event' in downtown Auckland, including a large portion of city wharves, Westhaven Marina and the Viaduct Harbour around 10pm.

'Strong localised thunderstorm gusts caused significant damage to moored vessels, upturning and sinking large recreational vessels in and around Westhaven Marina and casting adrift the commercial Great Barrier Island car ferry from Wynyard Terminal. Several large portacom units, shipping containers, cars and pylons were also lost into the harbour,' Manaena said.

'Lion Foundation Rescue and Trillian Rescue Alpha, Coastguard Rescue Vessels from Mechanics Bay were tasked to respond and assist the police with securing vessels and debris adrift, and to undertake welfare checks with impacted vessels to ensure all personnel were accounted for. Luckily, reports so far indicate that no mariners were harmed during this event.'

Manaena said the large amount of debris in and around the inner harbour remained a 'significant hazard' to navigation and would continue until all can be recovered.

Particular areas where people should remain extra vigilant include off Princes and Hobson wharves, the entrance to the Viaduct Harbour and Westhaven Marina.

Ports of Auckland spokesman Matt Ball said more than 30 containers were toppled across the port and some damage had occurred to port property.

'We are still assessing the damage to cargo, but the property damage is relatively minor,' Ball said.

A Wallace Investments staff member who was injured on Monday night when a shipping container blew onto their vehicle has been discharged from hospital which 'is a relief'.

They were freed from the vehicle by Fire and Emergency and taken to hospital in a moderate condition.

'We are operating pretty much normally, but there is some ongoing clean-up and repair work underway,' Ball said.

Ball said there may be some minor delays but the port was operating as normal.

A spokesman for Auckland Seaplanes said reports of a plane sinking were 'incorrect'.