New road around gorge is ‘likely’

A new route between Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay is now a ‘‘much more likely scenario’’ after growing instability closed the Manawatu Gorge road indefinitely, says transport minister Simon Bridges.

Bridges confirmed yesterday the Government was looking for a permanent fix to the ongoing threat of slips closing State Highway 3.

Bridges is expected to make an official announcement during a visit to Manawatu today.

The NZ Transport Agency previously announced it had invited three organisations to tender to investigate long-term options.

Tenders close in mid-august and a final recommendation is expected in December. That would then go out for public consultation and a permanent fix is expected within three years.

Slips closed the road through the gorge in April, but then fears about the stability of the hillside led to the transport agency closing the road indefinitely.

Another slip came down last weekend.

Several permanent fixes for the Manawatu Gorge were considered in 2012, after the last major slip closed the road for more than a year. They ranged from a tunnel to a new road near the Te Apiti wind farm, but all were ultimately shelved.

Bridges said the expert advice at the time said those options were technically difficult and risky, so the safest course was to clear the road and reopen the gorge, but circumstances had changed.

Workers were pulled out of the gorge in early July over safety concerns about a large area of unstable rock face. The land was moving as much as 60 millimetres over 18 months in places, and the movement was speeding up, making it increasingly unsafe, he said.

‘‘My view, based on the advice I’m getting, is the more likely, possibly much more likely, scenario is an alternative, permanent, better and much more resilient route for the Manawatu,’’ Bridges said.

Bridges also confirmed Woodville was unlikely to get an economic assistance package from the Government.

There had never been such a package when the gorge had closed for extended periods in the past, he said.

Bridges said that kind of assistance was usually only offered in a state of emergency, when all businesses

‘‘The more likely ... scenario is an alternative, permanent, better and much more resilient route for the Manawatu.’’ Simon Bridge

were affected, like in Kaikoura, Christchurch and Edgecumbe.

But, Inland Revenue spokesman Pete van Schaardenburg said the department recognised the gorge closure had put some Woodville people in a difficult spot.

Inland Revenue staff visited the town’s businesses two weeks ago and would be back in the next month to talk through their options and offer advice.

Schaardenburg said options included deferred payments.

Tararua mayor Tracey Collis said it was a stressful time for the town’s businesses, particularly as the first provisional tax payment is due on August 28.

‘‘There’s a lot more grief and anger being felt this time than during the 2011 slip. That third slip that came down in the weekend felt like it has changed the landscape for Tararua.’’

Council economic policy adviser Mark Maxwell has stayed in regular touch with the business community. A council business adviser was set up at the Woodville i-site fulltime and the council organised cashflow seminars.

Windfarm Cafe and Bakery owner Linh Lee said a lot less money had come in this year.

They would just have to find a way to get through, she said, and it was good to see Inland Revenue was being proactive. Staff had helped her sort out a Working for Families tax credit and talked her through a possible instalment plan, in case she couldn’t come up with her August 28 payment.