More slips close part of Paradise Valley Rd

Massive slips have closed a road near Rotorua, frustrating locals.

More than 100mm of rain fell in the past week and the slip, between Endean Rd and Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre, occurred near where Paradise Valley Rd dropped away in rain only 10 days ago.

Due to the slip's proximity to an underslip, which occurred during a previous weather event, it was decided that portion of the road was not safe to open.

The road will remained closed until further notice.

A new slip has closed part of Paradise Valley Rd, while the sight of an old slip remains on one way stop go lights.

According to the Rotorua Lakes Council website, contractors had inspected the slip this morning and found material still coming down.

It was deemed too dangerous to start working, and the closure is being manned at either end to prevent cars going through, however locals would be allowed access to their properties.

The situation will be reassessed tomorrow with the hope a clean-up can begin.

A large slip has closed part of Paradise Valley Rd. Photo/Ben Fraser

The new slips come only five weeks after a major slip which closed Paradise Valley Rd and washed out driveways.

Paradise Valley resident Dean Dinnington said the slips were making the road dangerous.

"It is a daily hazard," he said.

Mr Dinnington has had to climb over the debris of his driveway to get in and out of his home for the last five weeks.

"This is our only way in and out," he said.

"If it rains we actually can't get to work."

A large slip has closed part of Paradise Valley Rd.

Debbie Stewart, executive director at Wingspan, said she was pleased with how quickly Rotorua Lakes Council had responded.

"We take our hats off to the council for how quickly they were there and working on it to make sure people were kept safe," she said.

"We're very pleased about how quickly they were informing people. We knew about it before they'd even got the road closure signs out here."

Wingspan is now only accessible from the northern side of Paradise Valley.

"No one can predict these things, and we're just glad there was no major damage in this round of slips," she said.

Rainfall this week
Tuesday April 11 - 15.6mm
Wednesday April 12 - 30.8mm
Thursday April 13 - 50.2mm
Friday April 14 - 3.4mm
Saturday April 15 - 3mm
Sunday April 16 - 5.2mm
Monday April 17 - 3mm (as at 5.30pm)