Wednesday, 02 February 2022 11:19

West Coast on high alert for severe weather event.

Written by  Peter Burke
Westland Milk Products has put its flood response plan in place ahead of a predicted red storm alert for the West Coast of the South Island. Westland Milk Products has put its flood response plan in place ahead of a predicted red storm alert for the West Coast of the South Island.

The Hokitika based dairy company, Westland Milk Products has put in place its flood response plan ahead of a predicted Red storm alert for the West Coast of the South Island.

Met Service says over the next few days the Buller area can expect between 350 to 450mm of rain in the ranges and up to 230mm near the coast and in the case of Westland between 500 to 700mm of rain in the ranges and up to 250mm near the coast.

The CEO of WMP, Richard Wyeth told Rural News that when we get a red civil defence warning they automatically put a response plan in place to get everyone prepared and to carefully monitor the situation. He says this is to ensure that they can react in a more prepared fashion rather than just being reactive.

“A number of roads to farms we collect milk from are  basically single entry so if the road gets washed out or closed it can be very difficult  to get milk out,” he says.

Richard Wyeth says this also applies to staff, and in particular tanker drivers and in the past they have had to helicopter them from home to their base to pick up a milk tanker and get on the road. He says they have learned from past storm events about the need to be prepared and this is what they are doing now.

“Hopefully this event won’t be that extreme but we are on watch right now,” he says.

Watch this website for updates on this event.

More like this

Wyeth to head Synlait

Former Westland Milk boss Richard Wyeth is taking over as chief executive of Canterbury milk processor Synlait from May 19.

Top dairy CEO quits

Arguably one of the country's top dairy company's chief executives, Richard Wyeth has abruptly quit Chinese owned Westland Milk Products (WMP)

Milk price certainty

Westland Milk has reaffirmed its commitment to pay farmer suppliers 10c above Fonterra farm gate milk price for the following two seasons.

Featured

Brendan Attrill scoops national award for sustainable farming

Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.

National

Machinery & Products

Calf feeding boost

Advantage Plastics says it is revolutionising calf meal storage and handling, making farm life easier, safer, and more efficient this…

JD's precision essentials

Farmers across New Zealand are renowned for their productivity and efficiency, always wanting to do more with less, while getting…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Don't hold back!

OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…

Sorry, not sorry

OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter