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Washout cuts off Far North

Author
NZ Herald Staff,
Publish Date
Sat, 24 Mar 2018, 8:40AM

Washout cuts off Far North

Author
NZ Herald Staff,
Publish Date
Sat, 24 Mar 2018, 8:40AM

A drop-in centre has been set up in Pukenui, in the Far North, after heavy rain washed away a section of State Highway 1 and cut off access.

The slip is between Whalers Road and Lamb Road.

Civil Defence spokesman Bill Hutchinson told NZME locals could use a private forestry road but it was not suitable for tourists in campervans.

The Houhora Big Game & Sports Fishing Club has been opened up for anyone who needs help, but no one turned up overnight, he said.

Civil Defence will be providing information as tourists start heading south. This is likely to happen mid-morning, Hutchinson said.

He will have an update later this morning from the roading contractors about how long it will take to put a lane in to get people through.

Local tow truck driver Crunch Bradley told the Northern Advocate yesterday afternoon that the washout happened on land he previously owned, about 200m north of Ariawa Rd.

His daughter now owns the land on one side of the washout, and his son the land on the other.

He said heavy rain caused part of a newly built footpath to slump and block a culvert, which caused the water to back up, before it let go and washed the road away.

"Now there's a 35 foot [10.5m] hole."

The Four Square in Pukenui was busy with people stopping for supplies and some staff members were unable to get home.

Pukenui Holiday Park owner Jo Kennedy said the washout was about 3km south of Pukenui.

She had not had any extra people turn up to the park to stay as she said people had been using the forestry roads to get around.

Ahipara Backpackers and Motor Camp owner Sandy Ratcliffe said none of his guests seemed stressed about the situation but was surprised the road had caved in.

"It's unbelievable," he said. "I didn't think it was that much rain. It was certainly heavy but nothing that we haven't been experiencing every winter.

"I'm sure there will be a lot of pressure on [officials] to get it repaired. We're in peak season."

Hukatere Lodge founder Gabrielle Pfaender said the Far North always got the "bad end of the stick" weather-wise and hoped the road would be fixed quickly.

She said it had been pouring with rain all night but the sky was starting to clear.

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