Storms cost millions
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This large slip on Scenic Drive, near the Arataki Visitors’ Centre, is among 15 sites identified as requiring
restoration as soon as possible.
Storms cost millions
More than $1.8million will be required to restore essential infrastructure in Waitakere which was damaged by land slips.
Heavy storms in recent months led to a number of slips which took out roads and underground pipes.
The Waitakere City Council last night agreed to raise an extra $1.8 million by way of a loan to pay for work requiring
urgent attention.
The New Zealand Transport Agency has indicated that the council would be eligible for a 43 percent subsidy towards
repair costs.
Priority has been given to repairing landslips affecting roads.
The schedule includes 15 sites with repair costs ranging from $5000 to $500,000. All the sites are considered to pose a
high risk to the community and public safety if not reinstated.
Throughout July to the end of August, Waitakere experienced several prolonged spells of very heavy rain and by the end
of August, a total of 46 slips had been reported. Some included residential properties that needed to be evacuated, some
roads have been partially closed and streams were partially blocked.
The heavy rain followed a dry summer and below average rainfall since August 2007 and the soils became heavily saturated
with groundwater.
The number of landslips was significantly more than would have been expected in a normal year and unprecedented since
Cyclone Bola.
“This year’s weather patterns were extreme and many councils throughout the country reported an unusually high number of
problems. It was something we couldn’t have predicted but have to be aware that it could be indicative of future weather
patterns associated with climate changes,” says Derek Battersby, chairperson of the council’s Works and Infrastructure
Committee.
The sites to be reinstated are:
• Sturges Rd/Candia Rd;
• Whatipu Rd;
• 16 Triangle Rd;
• Huia Rd -1km east of township
• 4 Opua Rd;
• Huia Rd – 50m past Shirley Rd;
• Karekare Rd (downhill);
• 92 Lone Kauri Rd;
• 63 Christian Rd;
• Scenic Drive – near Arataki Visitors Centre;
• 135 Victory Rd
• 15, 27 and 31 Warner Park Drive;
• 227 Forrest Hill Rd.
ENDS