Haven St 'shocking mess'

Moeraki Tavern joint owner Barry Johnston points to the effects of recent movement in the Haven...
Moeraki Tavern joint owner Barry Johnston points to the effects of recent movement in the Haven St slip. Photo by Bill Campbell.
The condition of the main access road to Moeraki, Haven St, has worsened, say Waihemo Community board members and a local businessman.

Haven St is "an absolutely shocking mess", Waihemo Community Board member Jack Lyford, of Hampden, told the Waihemo Community Board meeting this week. There appeared to be no control of stormwater on the road, he said.

Waitaki District councillor for the Waihemo ward, Kathy Dennison, said traffic might have to return around Tenby St, even though Haven St was one way in the slip area.

Mr Lyford said after the meeting he believed the deterioration of Haven St had increased recently.

"Are they [the Waitaki District Council] waiting for someone to get hurt on Haven St?" Moeraki Tavern joint owner Barry Johnston asked this week.

The slip on the road had deepened 80-100mm in the last week, Mr Johnston said, and other sections of the road surface were cracking and would start to slip when there was heavy rain.

Mr Johnston said a visitor to Moeraki had recently reported his campervan had nearly plunged over the side of the road on the slip-affected section of Haven St.

Waitaki District Council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said the council was working with the Earthquake Commission regarding private property drainage issues, and the water flowing into the slip would have to be stopped before any remedial work could be done on it.

However, that work had been delayed by the September and February earthquakes in Christchurch.

Mr Jorgensen was not sure if the Haven St slip could be fixed.

Locals say the street has been prone to slips since the road was formed in the 1850s.

 

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