Waihau Bay/Loisels reconnected in time for summer camping

Before and after . . . this section of Waihau Beach Road wiped out by a landslide in June has been rebuilt and reopened — great news for locals and holidaymakers alike. Pictures supplied

Waihau Beach Road is open again to the public after a significant landslide took out five metres of the road in June.

An engineer’s report received last week has given the rebuilt section of the road the seal of approval, reconnecting the small rural community of Waihau Bay.

The reopening also means summer camping at Waihau Beach/Loisels campground will open from Friday, December 22.

“This road forms the only connection to Waihau Bay,” Gisborne District Council community lifelines director Tim Barry said.

“Residents have been able to use this road for a couple of weeks. However, we’re really happy to let everyone know that this road is open again for the public.

“It also means access to one of the region’s favourite camping spots is open from Friday next week for summer camping.

“This is great news . . . all we need now is some dry weather to enjoy our summer.”

Mr Barry said a retaining wall had been built to support the new portion of the road and new vegetation on the slope above had already come through.

“The road has also been reshaped and levelled to move the low drainage point away from the dropout, with drainage through this section of the road also improved.”

The main risks of any further landslide at this location are heavy rainfall or an earthquake.

The five-metre dropout on Waihau Beach Road happened in the last week of June and was the direct result of heavy rainfall.

The Pouawa Rural Fire Rain Gauge recorded up to 366.6mm of rainfall during the fortnight before the landslide occurred.

The council will continue to monitor the site for movement.

Mr Barry said campers using the site needed to be aware that if further land movement was detected on the road, the camping site would be closed at short notice.

Geotech Consulting company LDE completed an initial stability assessment shortly after the landslide occurred. Downer did the repair works and WSP produced an engineering stability report summarising the site conditions.

Signage will go up around this section of the road to advise drivers not to stop their vehicles within the repaired section of the road.

More detail on the region’s road to recovery is available on the council’s website and is updated regularly.