Daniele Bonacini heading out to the Cape on Thursday. Photo / Paul Taylor
Daniele Bonacini heading out to the Cape on Thursday. Photo / Paul Taylor
One of the first people to brave a walk on the Cape Kidnappers beach reopened by the Hastings District Council fled to safety after a landslide came down ahead of him.
Clifton Beach has been closed since two tourists were seriously injured in a huge slip on cliffs above thebeach on January 23.
The council finally reopened the beach, a legal road, on Wednesday - although it tempered the reopening by advising advised people to avoid the area because of the risk of death.
Slips at Cape Kidnappers in February 2019. Photo / Supplied
Before walking along the beach, Daniele Bonacini told Hawke's Bay Today he was not worried about the potential risk.
"I'm just going to go have a look."
He had been hoping to make it around the January 23 slip.
However, he told Hawke's Bay Today when he came back that he saw a small landslide coming down, even before he reached the main slip. He said that, as well as the falling rocks, he saw another fresh slip and decided to turn back as he felt unsafe.
Minor rockfall seen by Hawke's Bay Today. Photo / Paul Taylor
When Hawke's Bay Today visited the scene there were signs of fresh slips, but nothing that seemed bigger than what historically falls from the cliffs after a period of rainfall.
Earlier, council CEO Nigel Bickle admitted to Radio New Zealand he would be worried about walking along the beach, a legal road.
"I don't know. I'd probably want to go with someone who knows the area well," Bickle, who has only been in Hawke's Bay for about three months, told Susie Ferguson.
Visitors to Clifton Beach are warned of risk of death or serious injury if they proceed down the beach. Photo / Paul Taylor
"Why? Would you not feel safe with the measures that you've been talking about that are in place?" she asked.
He said he felt confident that based on the measures people could make an informed decision about walking on the beach.
Another two locals, who did not wish to be named, had ridden to the start of the beach to see what it looked like, but did not have plans to go along the beach.
They said it would be sad if a decision was made to permanently close the beach.
The cliff collapse at Cape Kidnappers in January, injured two tourists. Photo / Supplied
HDC's group manager asset manager, Craig Thew, said a kaitiaki (guardian), stationed at the beach had also reported a small landslide.
"We encourage any member of the public who observes any landslide to report it to the kaitiaki or phone 06 871 5000.
"While the beach road has been opened, the council continues to strongly urge people to avoid the area due to serious risk of injury or death.
"If public safety is deemed to be at risk in terms of landslides, the beach will be closed again temporarily depending on the scale of the landslide."
The beach will remain open after yesterday's small slip.
The council is currently completing a qualitative risk assessment on the safety of the beach which it expects to complete in October.
Minor rockfall seen by Hawke's Bay Today. Photo / Paul Taylor
The March 5 vote to reopen the beach passed by a narrow margin and was against official advice.
Department of Conservation access and facilities on Cape Kidnappers, which provides access to the cape's world-famous gannet colony, will remain closed until the assessment is done.
Signs warning of risk of death or serious injury remain on the access road and kaitiaki are stationed at the beginning of the walk to advise people of the risk.
