It seems the West Coast has dodged a bullet

Westport residents have been given the all clear to go home, after heavy rain forced them from their homes.

About 60 people have been at the Holcim evacuation facility in Westport, and 11 have been in temporary accommodation in Greymouth.

West Coast Civil Defence controller Te Aroha Cook says 400 homes were impacted in July last year, but the Buller river didn't rise as high this time.

She says the 8.5 metre flow means there was no spillover, and surface flooding wasn't as severe as in 2021.