By Maia Hart
A temporary road to get around and help fix a flood-damaged road in South Marlborough has been washed out by a slip brought on by more flooding.
The temporary road in the Awatere Valley has been destroyed after heavy rain. Photo: Supplied / Jacqui Stevenson
It is the third slip on the Awatere Valley Road in seven months - with the slips in July, December and last weekend - and it is making those working on the road "reinvestigate" how to make it safe again.
Jacqui Stevenson's family farm is on the other side of the slip that just washed out the temporary road. While Stevenson lives in Blenheim, she goes out there often to visit family.
She was at the farm on the weekend, when the slip happened.
"I think a lot of people think that nothing has really progressed in terms of a long-term solution," she said.
"They've said the road has been closed since July. So if you drive up the Awatere, to about 30km, there's road closed signs, but obviously it's open to us to be able to get through, because people need to be able to get out somehow."
She said residents up the Awatere Valley said the temporary road was not going to last, but that was "just what they [construction] were told to do".
"A road crew came up [in January], and they are actually staying in some accommodation on the property just up from where the slip is.
"They have been there for three weeks, and they made a temporary road in the river bed.
"This weekend in that rain, it was just completely washed out. It's just very messy ... You walk over the slip, and you sink about a foot deep into the mud."
Everyone on "the downside" of the slip had been amazing, offering vehicles and help with groceries.
Awatere Valley Road pictured after the 17 July storm in 2021. Photo: Supplied / Mary Satterthwaite
Marlborough Roads journey manager Steve Murrin said the heavy rain from ex-Cyclone Dovi "overwhelmed" the Limestone Bridge slip, and closed the road until Monday evening.
"The slip was cleared after a geotechnical engineer assessed the area," Murrin said.
He said they communicated the road closure, and its re-opening with residents through email updates, an alert on the Marlborough District Council's website, the council's Facebook page and shared with local community groups on Facebook.
"Following July 2021, river engineers have been consulted, and the agreed solution was for the river alignment and temporary road to be built, to enable residents to get in and out," Murrin said.
"Following this weekend's slip an alternative method for working on the Limestone Bridge slip is being investigated. This may require closing the road for short periods.
"We understand the Awatere community's concern, our priority is to ensure that the permanent road is safely rebuilt so that it endures well into the future."
Marlborough District Council was asked how much had been spent on repairing the road since July last year, but a response was not provided in time for publication.
A report prepared for the council assets and services meetings said up to 31 December, $15.1 million had been spent on flood damage repairs around the region. Waka Kotahi had funded $13.2m of that figure, having approved a 95 percent subsidy rate on emergency works up to $20m.
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