Gisborne bridge debris cleanup underway

Contractors started work today on clearing away the debris built up around the city's bridges, caused by the weekend's heavy rain storm. Photo / Murry Cave

The clean-up of debris that washed down Gisborne rivers and became lodged under bridges in the major rain event over the weekend has begun.

Contractors made a start on Wednesday afternoon at the Gladstone Rd, William Pettie and Rail bridges.

“To do this safely and effectively, contractors will work around the tides,” said Gisborne District Council strategic communications and engagement manager Jade Lister-Baty.

“They’ll start about three hours before low tide so they can clearly see and extract the logs, and so any loosened debris can float safely downriver.”

The council said the build-up under the bridges was considerably less than during the severe storms of 2023. Photo / Murray Robertson

Contractors began setting up late Wednesday morning and started removal with the outgoing tide from early afternoon.

“The plan is to start at the Rail Bridge first, then move on to Gladstone Rd and William Pettie Bridge over the next few days,” Lister-Baty said.

“Contractors will also be clearing sediment from the Marina Boat Ramps.”

That work will start at the Waimata Ramp.

“There will be a digger on site and a truck for removal, followed by waterblasting on Thursday.

“People using the riverside walkways should avoid the areas where contractors and machinery are working,” she said.

It was not expected that further rain forecast on Wednesday would impact the work or cause more debris.

“We have started our pre-weather checks for our wastewater system to prepare to manage increased flows.”

MetService issued a severe thunderstorm watch, which included inland Tairāwhiti and the Wairoa district, on Wednesday morning.

MetService said localised downpours with rainfall rates of 25 to 40mm an hour were possible, which could lead to surface or flash flooding around low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and slips.

Lister-Baty has thanked the public for their patience as the mahi gets sorted.

It's estimated that more than 3500cu m of driftwood has washed ashore from The Cut west along the beachfront. Photo / Murray Robertson

Meanwhile, the cleanup of the driftwood debris on the city beaches is ongoing.

The council earlier urged the public not to walk among the debris on the city beaches until clean-up work had been completed, as it could be hazardous.

Staff estimated that 3500-5700cu m of debris had washed up on the city beaches.

The response was not central Government funded and has been funded by the budget collected via the targeted forestry rate in the council’s Three Year Plan.