Roading crew abused by logging truck drivers

Staff manning cordons on roads following the Tolaga Bay storm were verbally abused and physically threatened by logging truck drivers.

The Gisborne district was hit by two major rain events in June.

The first, on June 4, caused flooding and erosion and forced the evacuation of people in the Tolaga Bay area, while the second on June 11 was more widespread and closed State Highway 2 between Gisborne and Opotiki.

In a paper before the Gisborne District Council this week, roading manager Dave Hadfield said it became obvious after the first event that forestry and truck operators were still working in the area. The council decided to close some roads to prevent further damage.

Hadfield said the forestry industry was affected by this and, while it was not a popular decision, industry members appeared to understand why it was necessary.

But when the second event hit a week later the roads were badly damaged and had to be closed for much longer than expected.

Hadfield said log truck drivers started ignoring road closures with ‘‘lots of reports of trucks driving on the roads that were closed in the early hours of the morning’’. Security guards had to be hired to man checkpoints and cordons. This led to some ‘‘difficult discussions’’ and police had to be called in.

‘‘Staff at the cordons were abused and on two occasions threatened physically. Some drivers just would not stop. Vehicle registration numbers have been recorded and follow-up work is taking place to talk to these people,’’ he said.

The experience showed that in future roadblocks should be manned as soon as the roads were closed.

The response and cleanup cost to the council for damage to roads is estimated to be $2.4 million but may rise. This is included in the overall bill of $10m for the cleanup.

Much of that was caused by forest debris, or ‘‘slash’’, that was washed off the hills, covering farmland, damaging roads and bridges, and causing rivers and streams to block and flood.

Last month, it was revealed the council was warned in a report late last year that forestry debris was likely to cause huge damage in another big storm.

The report, written following the impact of Cyclone Cook and Cyclone Debbie in April last year, found slash piles were routinely stored on flood plains and future downpours would cause risk for buildings and infrastructure.

The report recommended the storing of slash on flood plains be discontinued, and existing areas of slash storage on flood plains be removed or protected from mobilisation. It also recommended the council work with the Environmental Focus Group to ensure environmental guidelines, and procedures were fit for purpose.

Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon said the council had already improved forestry monitoring.

He said new drones would monitor the situation so ‘‘we can enforce the resource consent conditions’’.

Foon said the forestry sector would support the cleanup if ratepayers would help pay for it.

Above: Wigan Bridge, on Tauwhareparae Rd outside of Gisborne, is covered with debris and flooded over on June 11.Above right: A rescue chopper closes in on a family on the roof of their Tolaga Bay home, surrounded by floodwaters and forestry debris, on June 4.