Farmer's efforts clear way for traffic

Lower Waitaki farmer Bill Pile is at it again. Yesterday, he was clearing culverts on Seven Mile Rd so traffic could use it as a detour after flooding closed State Highway 1 between Hilderthorpe and Pukeuri.

''A 72-year-old doing road works for the council,'' was his comment after taking a shovel to unblock two culverts at the eastern end of Seven Mile Rd, which caused deep water across the road.

At that stage, the Waitaki District Council was considering closing the road, which would have isolated Oamaru both north and south.

''I told them there was no need. All it needed was these culverts cleared.''

He went home and got his shovel, cleared a broken pine branch, grass and debris from across the culverts and reduced the water to a level that cars could easily negotiate.

Mr Pile has been critical of council road maintenance in recent years, particularly on the Lower Waitaki plains where he farms.

''They [council staff] should all be out driving around now, while it is flooding, to see where there are problems.''

Last year, Mr Pile got himself into trouble with council staff when, sick of potholes along Steward Rd, he got his grader and smoothed them out.

That breached the council's traffic management plan. The council considered prosecuting him but that did not happen.