Tuesday 2 June, 2015

Anzac Cliffs work suspended for winter

River works to realign the Manawatu River and stabilise Anzac Cliffs have been suspended for winter.

Horizons Regional Council project engineer Derek McKee says fluctuating water levels mean river crossings necessary to finish the last section of works are no longer possible but he is pleased with the work completed to date.

“We are suspending works until we can confidently predict a stable weather period. This is likely to be in November or December,” says Mr McKee.

“We have secured the existing works for winter by installing a temporary rock lining at the downstream end to hold the gravels in place. Once operations start up again we will only have another four to five weeks of the river realignment section of the works to complete.”

Mr McKee says all equipment has been removed from the site but safety fencing beside the Bridle Track at Albert Street will remain in place.

“We have approximately 80 per cent of the rock that we need to complete the project on site. However, as trucks will continue to deliver the remaining rock for the next few weeks, all signage and fencing will remain.

“We will maintain the site in a tidy condition until works begin again,” he says.

To date work has included realignment of the river channel away from the cliffs, to its approximate position of 1992; placement of approximately 22,000 tonnes of rock to establish a new and secure left bank alignment; and back filling the old river channel with compacted gravels. The next steps include continuing the rock foundation and bank lining downstream for a further 160 metres and completing the back filling.

Once this work is completed PMB Land Company will be able to begin their portion of the works which includes reducing the slope of the adjoining section of cliff and establishing vegetation over the entire re-worked area.

Ends

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