Upper Coopers Creek Landslip
At last count, the Shire had 10 landslips. These are severely disrupting the lives of many. The landslip in Upper Cooper’s Creek is particularly challenging and the residents above the slip have had their resilience and patience truly tested. Easy answers and solutions are thin on the ground. The next stage of obtaining more geotech information started last with borehole drilling by a smaller light weight rig. This drilling is expected to take 1.5 to 2 weeks and is very dependant upon weather for safety reasons. After the completion of the drilling the geotech will assess the new information to complete their investigation into the causes of the landslip, what temporary access can be provided and under what requirement and then finally start looking at options for permanent restoration. All of this is expected to take some time to do efficiently and properly. Council has set up a email bulletin to keep community members in touch with developments and some great initiatives to invigorate the community are about to roll out. A Wellbeing Task Group will facilitate providing bulky tools and equipment, training up bus drivers and getting a café and general store up and going. So far all the focus has been on the road and its status. However, we need to consider the community and the ways to empower them and get some normality back into their lives.
Images of the Landslip from the air.
Images of the landslip from the ground- from the road looking down to the creek.
Wanganui Road Damage
One point of the road.
Mayor Simon Richardson 