Message #123538

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Stretch of river a no-go

By STACEY KIRK - Manawatu Standard | 12 NOON - Saturday, 26 November 2011


LANDSLIDE: Workers using heavy machinery attempt to clear the Manawatu Gorge. The road was blocked
when 20,000 cubic metres of rubble was brought down by rain last month. — Photo: NZTA.

A SECTION of the Manawatu River will be closed to the public because of safety concerns relating to the massive slip that has closed the Manawatu Gorge for more than three months.

But kayakers training for the Coast to Coast multisport event are frustrated after being told to find another place to practise.

Horizons Regional Council has announced that a 200-metre stretch of the river, either side of the slip, will be closed indefinitely, from Monday.

Monday will also mark 100 days since State Highway 3 through the gorge was closed by a series of slips.

Motorists have been forced to use the Saddle Road and Pahiatua Track.

Manawatu Canoe Club member and Q-Kayaks officer manager Melanie Grant said the closure would be a "huge bummer" for a lot of kayakers.

"It's been affecting us because there's people who have been training for the Coast to Coast every week. It's a particular piece of river that's a little bit more demanding, and good training with the rapids."

She said the business had already been turning people away from hiring boats for that portion of the river, and kayakers would most likely have to resort to training in the Palmerston North Lagoon, or paddle from Ashhurst down river.


CLOSED: A 200 metre stretch of waterway either side of the slip is off-limits to river-users. — Photo: NZTA.

Manawatu Gorge Jet owner Mark Wickham said the slip and closure of the gorge had only had a small effect on his business because he did not normally travel through that particular part, but he would have to rethink his route for a big booking of 60 people he was taking next weekend.

Horizons harbourmaster Evan Lloyd said discussions had been held with the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and the decision to close the gorge was made to allow the agency to carry out work to stabilise the land above.

"NZTA will take precautions to warn users and stop work if anyone does enter the danger zone, but it is important that people remain vigilant and stay away from the area until further notice."

He said other parts of the catchment were suitable for recreational and commercial use.

NZTA state highways manager David McGonigal said work at the top of the landslide would start on Monday, and that could send a lot of loose debris down into the river.

"There's a lot of big rocks and we have had a lot of rain over the last couple of weeks."

"We're going to be starting with machines on Monday, and they'll be working at the top of the slip moving metal down the hillside."

A large machine — known as "The Bandit" — had been brought in to carry out the terracing process.

"This is a huge machine with extremely good torque and can winch up to 48 tonnes," Mr McGonigal said.

"It's been used to recover everything from swamp kauri logs to tipped-over trains. It will be half buried in the ground, and it will anchor our heavy machinery when it's working at the top."

He did not know how long the river would be closed.

• SH3 Manawatu Gorge

http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/6040198/Stretch-of-river-a-no-go