Repair teams face challenging work
Paekākāriki Escarpment Track slip needs abseilers and copters
Extensive work has been under way to repair a slip on the popular Paekākāriki Escarpment Track. The track is part of Te Araroa — New Zealand’s Trail, a 300km walking track from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
The slip area is in a difficult-toaccess location and has the added complication of having a railway below as well as the former State Highway 1.
Keeping the railway and road infrastructure operational during the works has been a priority too.
The slip originated in late 2020. Te Araroa and KiwiRail finalised a slope stabilisation plan before physical works began a number of months ago.
A bypass track above the slip area was created, enabling the entire track to remain open to the public while the cordoned off section was worked on.
“We’re basically drilling into the slope and anchoring in, as far as practical, the loose material that is there,” Charles Loader, from Abseil Access, said.
He said it was a difficult site to operate especially in terms of access.
“The slip area is smack bang in the middle of the escarpment track.
“We basically have to walk from the road, over the railway tunnel, to access the site.”
Loader said there was a lot of work to do. He estimated the project, which is cordoned off from the public, was about a third of the way through.
“If it was easy to access it wouldn’t be a big project but it’s the fact that it’s incredibly difficult to access.
There was no estimated time of completion.
“It’s a moving beast.
“Every time we get these weather systems come through there are slight changes of conditions in the site.”
Dennis Young, from Kāpiti Heliworx, has been an important part of the work.
He has airlifted gear and materials to the abseiling team and been responsible for airlifting excess gravel, in fertiliser bags, off the site. A lot has gone onto farmland tracks at the top of the escarpment.
“So far we’ve taken about 150 tonnes, at least, of gravel off and every single kilogram of that has been hand-dug by the abseilers.
“They’re the real heroes of the project in my opinion.
“We’ve been going at this for about 12 months.”
Young said waiting for the right weather conditions was important.
“I can only go in there when there’s a northwesterly.
“We can get clouded in at the top too.
“And we need a rail protection officer too so we can time the pickups in between the trains.”