Work begins to help cut-off villagers

Only one lane is open on the coastal road between Clevedon and Kawakawa Bay. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Earthworks are set to begin in Kawakawa Bay five months after a landslide cut off the access main road connecting residents to central Auckland.

The August 25 slip caused major disruption to those living in the small seaside village.

Six houses were evacuated as the slip moved centimetres each day. One at the top of Turei Hill has been condemned by the Earthquake Commission.

Some locals working outside Kawakawa Bay had to find other accommodation during the month-long road closure or endure the 100km detour around the Firth of Thames coast.

Special ferry and bus services were also set up and residents were able to park their cars on each side of the slip and walk over a steep farm track or catch a four-wheel-drive over it.

The coastal community has only about four businesses, which relied on passing traffic.

The Beachcomber Motel had only one customer in a month - a driver who had got lost. Kawakawa Bay Motors' petrol sales dropped more than 50 per cent in the month from the slip and retail sales fell dramatically.

Orere School set up two temporary classrooms for about 40 children from Clevedon School who were stranded by the slip.

The road reopened a month after the closure but only to one lane. It is being controlled by traffic lights.

Debris blocking the road has been removed and the road has been hosed down.

Manukau City Council economic director Rick Walden told the Weekend Herald that from January contractors would carve away part of the hillside and work to stabilise the area. The road is expected to be opened to two lanes by April.

"It's all okay now but if we had another wet winter next year then it could very well start moving again so it's a high risk." He said that by winter the hillside would be reshaped and stabilised.