Whatatutu causeway — ‘wacko idea’ — washes away

Te Kowhai Bridge causeway washout earlier this week. Picture supplied

Te Kowhai Road residents in Whatatutu are again cut off, after a $200,000 causeway designed to replace a cyclone-damaged bridge washed away.

Resident Chris Hannah said she had effectively been “imprisoned” in Gisborne city, while her husband was stuck on the other side of the river.

She said the ford was “a completely wacko idea” and a “complete waste of money”.

“The river started taking out the sides the day after it was finished, due to the amount of water there.”

The journey home was too dangerous to undertake, involving a “perilous” hill climb and 10km trek across a neighbour’s farm.

The causeway spanned the Waipaoa River where the old Mangatai Access Bridge was before it was washed away during the cyclone.

It was expected to stay in place while planning was under way for the construction of a replacement bridge.

Gisborne District Council community lifelines director David Wilson said the temporary causeway would be reconstructed when the river water level allowed.

“We knew this method of access was high-risk.

“However, it was quick to construct with the time and materials we had available while the new bridge to Te Kowhai Road is in the planning stages and still about two to three years away.

“In the interim, we need to reconnect our community.”

Mr Wilson said the causeway would be reconstructed at around $175,000, with extra layers of resilience added.

“Containers will be installed as large culverts to increase the waterway area. Rock bags will also be placed on the leading face to help slow the scour.

“Both of these items are reusables should the causeway be affected again by high river flows.”