Cracks reported weeks ago: local
Birkenhead businessman says he called Auckland Transport at start of last month before carpark collapsed
ABirkenhead business owner says he warned Auckland Transport about a dangerous situation developing weeks before a large slip swallowed about 50m of a public carpark.
Brad Boult said he called Auckland Transport on September 4 to report cracks appearing in the carpark, but claimed it took until September 20 for the Auckland Council body to erect fencing.
Photographs of the carpark taken by Boult on September 4 show long cracks and part of the carpark slumping towards the gully where the slip occurred over the weekend and on Monday.
Boult said that after he heard nothing back from Auckland Transport he phoned again a week later and was told the system was down and could not be given an update.
“An independent or high-level investigation is needed. There are issues around stability in the area,” said Boult, who set up the Birkenhead Brewing Company two years ago.
In a statement, AT said it received a call from Boult on September 6 and he was told the council body was aware of the cracks and it would be looked at once the rain stopped.
Boult called again on September 9 for an update and again on September 18. The customer service centre called him back that day and left a message on his voice mail with a number to call for more information, the statement said.
AT rejected any suggestion it had not acted promptly and with the highest regard for public safety.
A spokesman said it had been keeping an eye on the state of the carpark since last year and checks were stepped up during winter.
He said photographs on June 16 noted some small cracks, the same area was photographed on August 23 and the decision was taken to actively monitor the site regularly in conjunction with Auckland Council and Kaipatiki Local Board.
“It must be stressed there were no safety concerns at this stage,” the spokesman said.
A geotechnical specialist was employed on September 14 to check the ground and its stability, and daily checks started to monitor and measure the cracks.
After heavy rain on September 14-15, the size of the cracks grew and on September 19 the decision was made to close part of the carpark. Fencing and signage went up on September 20.
Further checks were made by the geotechnical specialist on September 29 and the cordon in the carpark was kept in place, the spokesman said.
Yesterday, the council body said “the first Auckland Transport became aware of stability issues was in mid- September when a crack appeared and an area of the carpark was cordoned off”.
Yesterday, the Herald revealed the council has known for years about stability issues below the carpark.
In 2010, the council said no to leasing the reserve below the carpark for gardens for a number of reasons, including the unstable nature of the land.
Northcote MP Jonathan Coleman faced a barrage of questions at a standing-room-only residents meeting yesterday morning.
The most heated debate was about the effect of the loss of 46 carparks and the effect on local businesses, customers and workers.
Auckland Transport told the 100 or so people at the meeting the next 72 hours would be critical for monitoring whether the slip had stabilised.
Birkenhead Town Centre Association chairman Pete Taylor said the disaster came at a busy time for the suburb, which is a major attraction for the Auckland Heritage Festival, which runs until this Sunday.