“I reckon the council needs to be practical and maybe if someone gets harmed on the Parikanapa Road because of the Bluffs closure then that should be on the council.
“They should provide history — evidence of harm coming to motorists in the past while traversing the Bluffs,” Mr Campbell said.
“They should provide evidence that their recent ‘discovery’ means the Bluffs are in worse condition than in the past.
“I think you will find anything unstable has predominantly been washed down in the cyclone and the Bluffs are now safer than before the recent geotech report.
“Historically the Bluffs (road) is closed from time to time during rain events and that is completely understandable.
“The remainder of the time it gets maintained and traversed in a safe environment, with a very low accident or incident rate,” Mr Campbell said.
Residents spokeswoman Pam Hamilton said people living in that area had not seen any further rock fall at the Bluffs since Cyclone Gabrielle.
“We feel it’s unacceptable, all this PC stuff from the council.
“They are not listening to us,” she said.
“What we’re struggling with is the lack of follow-up on an issue that is significantly affecting the community up here, and further afield.
“The Tiniroto and Ruakituri Valley communities have had a meeting with the council and no progress seems to have eventuated.”
Mrs Hamilton said it takes three to five minutes to drive through the Bluffs to get to Gisborne.
“It takes three quarters of an hour to go over the Parikanapa Road, and that road is taking a hammering because of all the extra traffic. It’s dreadful.
“Or it takes two and a half hours to go via Wairoa to Gisborne.
“What would you choose? Because there’s a risk of dying on any of those roads.”
Mr Campbell said if someone was caught under a slip at the Bluffs it could very likely be harmful.
“But the chances of that happening are far less than most other roading hazards throughout the district.
“The percentage chance of coming to harm on the Parikanapa Road or on the Morere highway at the moment would most likely be far greater than being hit by a rock on the Bluffs.
“I believe most of the Tiniroto community would agree.”
Mrs Hamilton said she had lived in the area for 70 years.
“You know you don’t go through there if it’s pouring with rain.
“We will be holding another public meeting at the Tiniroto Hall at 1pm on September 12 to discuss the situation further, and we know it won’t just be residents attending.
“The likes of LeaderBrand and truck companies have indicated they’ll be there too,” she said.
“It’s affecting so many people.
“In the meantime we hope the council will reconsider the decision to shut the road.”
Mr Campbell said the council had been “excellent” in providing the essentials to residents in the affected area since the cyclone.
“But this community has been through enough without the extra burden of this ongoing road closure.”
The Herald contacted the council earlier this week seeking some updated comment around the issue.
A reply had not been received when the paper went to print last night.
