Severe weather event: recovery update - 15 September 2015

Published on 15 September 2015

15 September 2015

Here is an update on recovery work following the severe weather event in June 2015.

Roading update

• Work began on Kaiwhaiki Road on Monday, September 14.
• Several trees initially dislodged during the June event came down on Kauarapaoa Road during the weekend, temporarily closing the road. These trees have been cleared.
• Because of the recent saturation, there have been difficulties with trucks being bogged in tip sites and crews have been temporarily pulled out of some areas. The ground is now beginning to dry out.
• Work on assessing underslips is ongoing.

There are currently 18 heavy machinery crews clearing slips and reforming roadside drainage around the district’s roading network:

• Whanganui River Road (7 crews)
• Kaiwhaiki Road (1 crew)
• Parihauhau Road (1 crew)
• Mangamahu Road (3 crews)
• Watershed Road (2 crews)
• Ahu Ahu Valley Road (1 crew)
• Longacre Road (1 crew)
• Tokomaru East Road (1 crew)
• Mangawhero Road (1 crew)

Due to ground conditions, roading crews have been temporarily pulled out of Fields Track and Kaukatea Valley Road.

Road closures:

• Whanganui River Road – north of Jerusalem
• Whangaehu Valley Road – closed to heavy trailer thoroughfare at Aranui Station. Access for truck and trailer units from either Mangamahu or Fields Track.
• Burrell Road – closed to heavy traffic
• Kaiwhaiki Road - last 1km (affects one house at the end of the road)
• Mt View Road – uphill section only past no. 49.  Can be accessed from Georgetti Road

4x4 access only:

• Ahu Ahu Valley Road
• Watershed Road

2WD, but extreme caution needed due to slippery surface:

• Te Rimu Road
• Waikupa Road
• Junction Road
• Longacre Road
• Kauarapaoa Road
• Rangiora Road
• Whanganui River Road – from start to Jerusalem
• Matahiwi Track
• Bruce Road
• Creek Road

All other roads in the district are open and available to 2WD, cars etc. Truck and trailer contractors who wish to gain access to rural roads are advised to phone the Wanganui Alliance directly for an update. All rural roads remain slippery with any significant rain.

Kowhai Park update

Although we have had some good weather, some areas at Kowhai Park are still too wet to work on. However, the contractor is bringing some additional soil into the playground area to rectify low spots and then we will begin some sowing – probably next week. Sowing is likely to happen soon in other areas outside the playground.