Clearing ‘high risk’ debris from Hikuwai River

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

An estimated 5852m3 of wood debris near the cyclone-destroyed Pauariki Bridge on the Hikuwai River 20km south of Tokomaru Bay is classified as high risk, says the Gisborne District Council.

“Local contractor Parata Ltd is extracting the wood using 30 tonne excavators with grapple, tractor with trailer or Moxy vehicle during low river flow. They’re working with landowners to remove the debris along the riverbanks and above the Cyclone Gabrielle flood line.”

It will be stockpiled on the land and burnt by FRM Holdings using a purpose-built fan and active high-oxygen burner when conditions allow.

There is an estimated 124,352m3 of woody debris in the Hikuwai catchment with around 34,185m3 to be extracted from high risk areas.