Community scolds council over slip
THE Waitaki District Council could have been better prepared for the Easter rainfall in Moeraki, a resident says.
The communitybuilt 400m section of Haven St slumped further in the rain, and was closed by the council for several days over Easter.
Restaurateur and former Otago regional councillor Fleur Sullivan said the council contractors visited Haven St on the Wednesday before Easter and deposited road materials made up of ‘‘gravel and mud’’ on the road.
Wednesday was wet and subsequently the road turned to ‘‘mush’’.
‘‘The week before Easter, everyone knew it needed fixing.’’
Bill Pile, one of the key figures in the communityled reconstruction of the road, which is estimated to have cost the equivalent of $1 million, believed it was generally safe to use, but its problems were due to the councilapproved stormwater pipe leaking. The pipe ran underneath the road, causing it to shift.
‘‘It’s moving because there’s water there.’’
Haven St was closed to through traffic in August 2013 when heavy rain collapsed the 400m section.
It remained closed for two years, but the community rallied, and for five months last year a volunteer effort rebuilt the road. The council spent $150,000 on the project.
Council water services and waste manager Martin Pacey did not respond to Mr Pile’s claim about the stormwater pipe, simply saying Haven St was constantly moving.
Because of this constant movement, it was important the road was kept in good condition. The council had planned to do the work the Wednesday before Easter.
‘‘Unfortunately, the forecast rain arrived earlier than expected and proved to cause considerable problems while grading the road, so the work ceased. This was exacerbated by the continuing issues we are having with the movement of the road. The road surface became impassable, despite roading metal being applied — not mud — and after further inspections it was closed and signage was erected,’’ Mr Pacey said.
The grading of the road had since been completed.
‘‘Haven St continues to move, movement that will continue regardless of the work council does, and means that from time to time, Haven St cannot be driven on.’’
Former Waihemo Community Board member Jane Carlyon, of Moeraki, said Haven St was vital for Moeraki.
The best way forward was for the community and council to work on a solution, but acknowledged the troublesome road would require ongoing maintenance and some possible solutions would be cost prohibitive.
‘‘We’re still driving on it and that’s the main thing.’’
After last week’s damage to the road, a council spokeswoman said repairs had been made to a damaged sewer main.
However, there were still multiple fissures, uprooted trees and uneven ground.
shannon.gillies@odt.co.nz