Omokoroa resident John Cufflin, who lives in Kowhai Grove, kneeling at the edge of the major slip which is creeping closer to his and his neighbours' homes. Photo/File.
Omokoroa resident John Cufflin, who lives in Kowhai Grove, kneeling at the edge of the major slip which is creeping closer to his and his neighbours' homes. Photo/File.
120417gn08bop.JPGA slip threatens to sweep away a garden shed and creeps closer to a nearby house. 120417gn08bop.JPG Thursday's heavy rain has increased the size of some large slips threatening homes in Omokoroa.
Kowhai Grove couple Jody Sawyers and her partner Rhys Bradford packed up and moved to a motel on Thursdayafter an estimated 5000cu m of soil slipped away last Friday.
Their large viewing platform and a set of steps which used to zig-zag down to the beach ended up about 20m down on top of a massive pile of mud.
Ms Sawyers told the Bay of Plenty Times yesterday, which since the first slip, they had lost "quite a bit more" of their back section and the slip area was always "moving".
"On Thursday afternoon during the torrential downpour, we watched another large portion of our fence area, including the palm trees we had lovely planted go. Plus earlier today another big chunk went," she said.
Ms Sawyers said the slip had now crept a couple of metres closer to their house.
"Water is continuing to pour out from the edge of the hole, which was extremely worrying as it meant more of our backyard is likely to slip away," she said.
Geotechnical engineers advised her and her partner last week to relocate because the living area of the house would be "under threat" if there were more slips," she said.
The couple's neighbour John Cufflin said at 7am on Thursday water was pouring out of the slip from about 10m to 11m down "like a flowing river".
The liquid pouring out looked like "watery brown sludge", he said.
Mr Cufflin said he did not know where all the water was coming from because there had not been any soak holes in the area for a long time and no pipelines installed that deep.
He and his wife also lost a bit more of the edge of their back section, and he expected another 2.5m to 3m of lawn to slip away in the coming days, he said.
"It doesn't have to be raining for this to happen . . . I'm continuing to keep a close eye on what is happening at both properties," Mr Cufflin said.
Two sets of neighbours in McDonnell St have already packed up and moved after major slips in their back yards had also crept closer to their homes.
The worse affected homeowner in McDonnell St declined to comment.
A large chunk of this bare section in Harbour View Road slipped away last week. Photo/George Novak.
Frank Begley, Western Bay of Plenty District Council spokesman, said part of Harbour View Rd which was closed to vehicles last week due to the slips, was now closed to pedestrians due to the "possibility" of further slippage.
"Geotech engineers were out in the area today inspecting the site and council is urging people to stay away from the area until more was known," he said.
