Wanganui Regional Office Media Release

1 September 2005

Slip repair plans announced

Transit New Zealand today announced plans to clear vegetation from council land on top of St John's Hill to allow 60- metre slip to be cleared.

Just under 2000 cubic metres of free-running sandy material was brought down on 23 June as contractors worked to construct the St John's Hill walkway/cycleway alongside State Highway 3. A further slip on 22 August brought down another 200 hundred cubic metres.

Transit regional manager Errol Christiansen today told the Wanganui District Council at its meeting today that to prevent the hill side from slipping again Transit needed to take some weight off the top of the bank.

"This will involve removing much of the existing vegetation at the top and getting a digger up there to reach down and remove the loose material on the face of the hill. We'll be removing around 1500 cubic metres of dirt and vegetation, leaving a bench about 3 metres wide, some 5 metres from the top of the bank. This means the bank will be laid back at the same slope from top to bottom."

Mr Christiansen said vegetation would be planted on the slope to further protect against risk of slips.

"We're working very closely with council officers and seeking expert advice to identify plants that would be both effective and attractive. We recognise that the appearance of the finished product is important."

Work would hopefully begin next week, Mr Christiansen said.

"The sooner the work is undertaken the better because the situation will only worsen if the remaining material becomes saturated by prolonged heavy rains.

"We are mindful of the safety of road users and we'd like to get things taken care of as soon as possible." Construction of the $260,000 joint walkway/cycleway, a key part of the Wanganui District Cycling Strategy, has continued despite the slip. Contractors have just completed drainage for the path at the bottom of the hill and the path from the bottom of the 'zig-zag' will be prepared and boxed for concrete to be poured over the next few days.

Mr Christiansen said the work to repair the slip would come at no cost to rate payers - it was deemed as part of the cost of constructing the walkway and would be fully funded by Transit. He also assured the council that if any further work was required to stabilise the bank at this part of the site as a result of the construction of the cycleway, Transit would bear the cost.

ENDS

1 September 2005

Slip repair plans announced

Transit New Zealand today announced plans to clear vegetation from council land on top of St John's Hill to allow 60- metre slip to be cleared.

Just under 2000 cubic metres of free-running sandy material was brought down on 23 June as contractors worked to construct the St John's Hill walkway/cycleway alongside State Highway 3. A further slip on 22 August brought down another 200 hundred cubic metres.

Transit regional manager Errol Christiansen today told the Wanganui District Council at its meeting today that to prevent the hill side from slipping again Transit needed to take some weight off the top of the bank.

"This will involve removing much of the existing vegetation at the top and getting a digger up there to reach down and remove the loose material on the face of the hill. We'll be removing around 1500 cubic metres of dirt and vegetation, leaving a bench about 3 metres wide, some 5 metres from the top of the bank. This means the bank will be laid back at the same slope from top to bottom."

Mr Christiansen said vegetation would be planted on the slope to further protect against risk of slips.

"We're working very closely with council officers and seeking expert advice to identify plants that would be both effective and attractive. We recognise that the appearance of the finished product is important."

Work would hopefully begin next week, Mr Christiansen said.

"The sooner the work is undertaken the better because the situation will only worsen if the remaining material becomes saturated by prolonged heavy rains.

"We are mindful of the safety of road users and we'd like to get things taken care of as soon as possible." Construction of the $260,000 joint walkway/cycleway, a key part of the Wanganui District Cycling Strategy, has continued despite the slip. Contractors have just completed drainage for the path at the bottom of the hill and the path from the bottom of the 'zig-zag' will be prepared and boxed for concrete to be poured over the next few days.

Mr Christiansen said the work to repair the slip would come at no cost to rate payers - it was deemed as part of the cost of constructing the walkway and would be fully funded by Transit. He also assured the council that if any further work was required to stabilise the bank at this part of the site as a result of the construction of the cycleway, Transit would bear the cost.

ENDS

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