Slip at Beach Loop ‘extremely hazardous’

CULTURAL LOSS: Jody Toroa says the recent event at the slip has obliterated a pa site and associated wahi tapu such as kumara pits, trees, special plants. 'We have lost a pa that connected us tribally and brought us together,' she said. Picture by Murry Cave

The public is being asked to avoid getting too close to the slip at Beach Loop for safety reasons.

On Friday a drone was used to map the largest landslide followed by a field assessment by a GNS Science landslide geomorphologist and engineering geologist team.

“The field assessment involved mapping out features of the headscarp located along the former railway line, positioning features using GPS and assessing rock fall and risk of further failure,” Gisborne District Council scientist Murry Cave said.

He said several hours of evaluation had led to the identification of additional landslides that were not obvious with initial satellite imagery but were evident in satellite images.

Dr Cave said the field work identified tension cracks on the rail platform that indicated the landslide would grow in size and extend further north. Further cracks were also found on the slopes above the rail platform, particularly just north of the main landslide.

“In addition, we found extensive evidence of rockfall where individual larger boulders had fallen from the bluffs above, with one landing with such force it partially buried itself in the ground,” he said.

Dr Cave said the overall assessment showed that the area of the landslide and to the north for several hundred metres was extremely dangerous and people should avoid getting too close.

He said the council would also recommend KiwiRail to instal suitable barriers to ensure people could not access the high-risk areas.

Noel Pohatu, a historian for Ngai Tamanuhiri, was part of the inspection team on Friday. The impact of the landslide on cultural values was discussed. The slip had destroyed a significant pa site.

“The pa was a connecting site to bring people together. That's what we have lost,” Jody Toroa, of local hapu Ngati Rangiwaho, said.

She said they were working in collaboration with the council, on a hazard plan that would be released to a public hui, as it concerned the safety of human life.

Dr Cave said the council was in discussion whether or not a larger drone should be brought in to improve the mapping of the site, and what the next steps are.

“It is clear that this is a very large event and there is risk of further large-scale failures which makes the area extremely hazardous.”