Slip-hit road to be reopened
The slip-hit section of Stafford Drive at Ruby Bay in Tasman District is to be cleared and reopened.
The Tasman District Council has given the go-ahead for the work, with the aim of having it completed within four weeks.
Transportation manager Jamie McPherson yesterday told members of the council’s operations committee that it looked like the work would start about December 6.
‘‘It is exciting news that we will be getting in and clearing that,’’ McPherson said. ‘‘All going well and weather permitting, there is two to three weeks’ work.
‘‘We don’t quite know what the road surface is going to be like underneath some of those slips so we have allowed ourselves a bit of time to do some repairs of the road surface if it is needed.’’
A 530m section of the road under the Ruby Bay bluffs has been closed since August 18 due to multiple slips covering the former highway, which came down during a four-day storm that hammered the region.
Part of the popular Ruby Coast Scenic Route, when open, Stafford Drive has an average of 1775 traffic movements a day, including many vehicles driven by visitors. Its closure sparked a petition and a plea for the road to be reopened. Ruby Bay resident and shop owner Carol Cromie, who weeks ago pleaded with the council to reopen the road, said she was pleased the work would be done. ‘‘Especially within four weeks,’’ Cromie said. ‘‘It will make a huge difference for us.’’
Concerned about the stability of the cliff face above, council staff spent the past three months undertaking investigations and consulting geotechnical experts to help them make a decision on whether the road should be reopened.
In a statement, council community infrastructure group manager Richard Kirby said that while a long-term management solution would be required to address the stability of the cliff face, potential risks associated with clearing slip material from Stafford Drive could be safely minimised to allow the shortterm reopening of two lanes.
‘‘The slip occurred in August,’’
Kirby said. ‘‘It is now three months later and the road remains closed – with summer almost upon us and the likelihood of more traffic on our region’s roads, extending this time any further is not tenable and we need to make a decision. So . . . I have asked for the slip to be cleared away and opened to two lanes within the next four weeks.’’
If the long-term risks associated with reopening both lanes were considered too high, measures could be put in place.
‘‘As part of the decision-making process we have developed a safety management plan, which could enable the road to be reduced to one lane if necessary, based on observations as slip clearance work proceeds.’’
The news comes as the McKee campground below the affected section of Stafford Drive looks set to reopen in early December once a damaged power cable is replaced. A slip in August compromised the electricity supply to the popular spot below the Ruby Bay bluffs, prompting the council to close it and forcing campground dwellers in five vehicles and caretaker Rochelle Cook to leave.
That separate slip, which was in the reserve area below the road, caused a cable supplying electricity to the camp to be stretched tight, putting it at risk of breaking. Electricity is needed to power the sewerage system at the campground.
A staff report says the slip behind the campground has been assessed. ‘‘The power cable from the top of the hill that provides power for the wastewater system needs to be replaced, prices are currently being sought for this work,’’ the report says. ‘‘The camp is likely to reopen early December.’’ Senior officer Beryl Wilkes yesterday told elected members she understood those prices had since been received, ‘‘so we’ll be looking at that’’.