Waioweka Gorge Resident Says Life Returning to Normal After Storm Damage

A resident in the Waioweka Gorge said roads in the area are looking good and life is returning to normal two months on from storm damage.

Wairata Road resident Rebecca Redpath said aside from the Goldsmith slip site, the road now looks like it is recovering well. 

"It looks really good to me. I mean it has done for quite a while to be honest, there's obviously washouts that are down to one way, but totally manageable." 

The damage on the Goldsmith slip does not look like it is too extreme and the road itself looks good for the amount of damage there was initially she said.  

"I think the road is looking a lot better than probably what people imagine it to be, to be honest."

Life for residents in the Gorge has nearly returned to normal Redpath said. 

When convoys began, Apanui Traffic Management worked closely with residents to ensure they could get to work and school, even if it was outside of convoy hours. 
"We have been lucky that we were able to do that, it would have been very difficult if we had to stick to those convoy times."

While the contractors have been very facilitating, some residents and motorists have been frustrated with NZTA information about travel through the Gorge. 

NZTA has not been in direct contact with those living in the Gorge, so they have had to rely on their website and social media channels for information Redpath said. 

" I can understand the frustration with people trying to get information off that website, it's not always 100% clear or accurate. 

While residents can travel to work and school, the event has still taken a hit. 

NZTA has encouraged all motorists to use detours unless their travel is essential. 

The lack of tourists on the road over the summer has impacted her parent in laws homestay business Redpath said.

"Even when the road is clear and the convoys started, people don't necessarily want to travel with those sorts of limitations and uncertainties, so that's taken a big hit - especially over summertime, which is the busiest time."

Redpath's residential road was significantly damaged during the January weather event. 

Initial damage on Wairata Road meant neighbours were isolated and the road was impassable in places  IMAGE: Supplied

While waiting for crews to reach their road, locals were getting stuck into clearing the road themselves. 

Redpath said now that crews have fixed it, the road is looking good. 

"I mean it took a wee while, but they've managed to fill in all the washouts, repair the bit of road that was damaged and clear the slips, so Wairata Road and Redpath Road, are looking really good now."

This has allowed people with cars that were left behind during the flooding, or locals wanting to use vehicles that are not four wheel drive to get out. 

While disruptions can be frustrating for motorists, Redpath said a new route through the area would not be plausible. 

Weather events have always impacted the road, so forward planning is needed she said.

"It's just the nature of the road that you're going to have slips at times." 

"I think it just comes down to regular maintenance and keeping the road as good as it can possibly be."

Predicting weather events is not possible, so all that can be done is work to prevent damage she said.