High interest in roading recovery info sessions

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

Public interest in roading recovery following Cyclone Gabrielle has led to changes in planned public information drop-in sessions.

Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) is an alliance set up to plan, design and manage the delivery of much of the recovery and rebuild work needed on the state highway and rail networks along the East Coast, in partnership with local contractors and suppliers.

It is also working closely with iwi and district council partners.

Since July when TREC was created, the focus has been on recovery work to restore access to parts of the state highway network, such as fixing damaged sites along State Highway 35 and around Mangahauini.

Public drop-in sessions began before Easter and are continuing this week and next.

“There are a couple of changes to the timetable, including rescheduling the Ōpōtiki session, originally planned for Wednesday evening, to a later date,” a NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi spokesman said.

“We’ve listened to community feedback about the drop-in sessions and as a result, we’re now adding a new event in Ruatōria and we’ve changed the event in Tokomarū Bay to a larger venue.  The  date remains unchanged.”

The new dates and times of the Ōpōtiki and Ruatōria events will be shared soon via social media and the Waka Kotahi TREC website.

Drop-in sessions excluding

Ruatōria and Ōpōtiki

Rangatira Tavern, Te Karaka: Thursday, April 4, 4pm to 6pm

Midway Surf Life Saving Club, Gisborne: Monday, April 8, 5pm to 7pm

Reynolds Hall, Tolaga Bay: Tuesday, April 9, 5pm to 7pm

Tokomaru Bay United Sports Club, Hatea-a-rangi Domain, Tokomaru Bay: Wednesday, April 10, 5pm to 7pm.