NEWS RELEASE
from Hutt City Council
10 February 2005

FERRY ROAD REMEDIAL WORKS

On Monday 14 February Hutt City Council contractors will begin work to remedy a slip on Council reserve land that damaged two houses at 509/510 Marine Drive, Days Bay, in last August's storm.

"One of the houses has subsequently been demolished. However, cracks in the hillside and localised slumping continue to pose a risk to the remaining house, the road below it and a public bush track that passes over the slip," said Bruce Hodgins, Divisional Manager, Parks Division, Hutt City Council.

"There will be some disruption as the works proceed, and we ask people to be patient and exercise care."

"We also ask that on the morning of Monday 14, residents park vehicles off the road as far as possible to allow the digger to be driven up the road on timber boards - the digger transporter cannot navigate the narrow road. The exercise should take about an hour, from around 9.00am."

Around 1200 m3 of debris has to be transported off site. Due to the narrowness of Ferry Rd, smaller trucks will transport the spoil to the car parking area at the bottom of Ferry Road where it will be loaded onto larger trucks for disposal.

Remedial works will fall into three distinct activities - tree work, earthworks, and reinstatement.

Tree work has commenced and will be completed in two stages. The first phase will involve the identification of all trees for controlled felling, the felling of selected trees to allow for excavation equipment, and the removal off site of selected tree material.

Phase 2 will include felling of the remaining trees impacted by the slips. At least 30 trees will be felled over the entire work period.

Excavation will follow the preliminary tree work. There are two slip areas that need to be excavated/re-graded. This will be done with a 20-tonne digger.

Reinstatement includes replanting the area, which will be done immediately following completion of the works and again during the planting season, around May. This will ensure optimum survival of plants. Any area disturbed by the works will be planted with species suited for the environment, using preferably native species.

The first phase of the tree work has already begun. It is anticipated just works will be completed by the end of February. There will be no work on the weekends and hours of operation will usually be between 9am and 4pm.

Access to the bush track has been blocked while the works are being carried out.

On-site monitoring will be carried out by Tony Mahoney, geotechnical engineer of Connell Wagner, Dave Aitchison, arborist from Arbortech Services, and Bob McWhirter of Dimac Contracting.

ENDS

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