“We’re not sure how much water got into the houses ... The stop banks will be bomb-proof by the time we’re finished.” Marlborough Mayor John Leggett said the region’s civil defence team was conscious that more heavy rain could add more water to Marlborough's “already sodden soil”. More bad weather could affect Queen Charlotte Drive, which re-opened on Tuesday for the first time in three days with traffic measures, so workers could continue clearing slips. “Public safety is the only priority ... Caution is key.” Leggett said the civil defence team was not yet sure how many houses had been damaged by the wild weather.