“We cannot sustain state highway road closures every time it rains. We become too vulnerable, and it costs our community. We need to look at the big picture. Lack of connectivity causes huge financial and productivity losses for Wairoa and the rest of New Zealand.
“Instead of losing money, our district needs central government investment into reliable roading so we can grow, not go backward.
“I acknowledge Cyclone Gabrielle caused considerable damage, and repair work is being carried out. However, we have been living like this for 10 months and more urgency is needed. We are one of the most isolated communities in New Zealand, yet I have seen no sign of escalating the work programme in recognition of our needs.
“We have still not seen a government minister in our town despite our invitations. We need the Government here to see what is happening and to work alongside us in our recovery and future resilience.”
Mr Little said this week, for the second Monday in a row, slipping has closed SH2 between Wairoa and Napier.
“This lack of connectivity comes at a considerable cost, with people unable to get home, access health services, stock and other freight services are effectively shut down, and there is a significant inconvenience on people’s lives. Patching our roads is no longer acceptable. We need long-term resilient solutions, and we need them now.
“SH2 between Wairoa and Napier remains severely compromised. We need investment to increase resilience and prevent slipping so it doesn’t occur in the first place. SH2 between Wairoa and Gisborne is also fragile, with the Morere Hill area a ticking time bomb. SH38 remains a real option, but despite our vulnerability, it is still not treated like a national highway and is the only unsealed state highway in New Zealand.
“We are 10 months post-Cyclone Gabrielle; we should have work under way on alternatives, such as overpasses, bridges and realignments, particularly for problem areas like the Waikare Gorge and Devil’s Elbow.
“I urge Government Ministers to come to Wairoa and see for yourselves the pressure we are under and support us in accelerating options to protect our people.”
LeaderBrand’s Richard Burke said with no diversions available, the vegetable supply company had no choice but to reroute its trucks from Gisborne to Rotorua before heading south to the Cook Strait ferries.
A longer-term and more resilient solution was needed, not just fixing the existing road which kept being closed, he said.
Mr Burke said although their trucks had to go the long way, the ferry timetable to cross Cook Strait did not change.
“There’ll be a fair bit of disruption tomorrow while the guys try to play catch-up and swing things around.
“But to be fair, we’ve been doing this for the last 12 months so it seems like it’s a normal daily event, which is kind of bad for us, because we’re good at it as we have to do it often.
“There’s no question the guys are over it.”
Mr Burke said LeaderBrand was absorbing the extra costs and not putting prices up.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said yesterday a geotechnical assessment was to be done with the assistance of a drone to assess the upper area of the slip, which could not be seen from the road.
“Crews are back at the site this morning and have been working to remove more material from the road,” NZTA Hawke’s Bay/Tairāwhiti system manager Martin Colditz said yesterday.
“However, the road will remain closed due to the risk of more material coming down.
“Safety for road users is the number one priority at the moment. We need to keep the road closed while that geotechnical assessment is carried out from the ground and the air.”
