The risk of several hundred tonnes of precariously hanging rock potentially falling on to the Duntroon-Livingston Rd and hitting road users is the reason for its ongoing closure, the local council says.
Frustration is boiling over among people living in the area at the so far six-week closure of the road.
In a letter to the editor, Tokarahi resident Robert Duff said locals affected by the closure were frustrated that finding a solution to the rockfall risk was taking so much time.
The site of the Maerewhenua limestone cliff rockfall has led to the road being closed for more than six weeks.
"The local people directly affected, including school bus children, are at a loss to find words to describe the lack of action and the indifference to this by the Waitaki District Council," Mr Duff said
The risk previously cited around the need to keep the road closed did not add up, he said.
"At no place did the tarseal show any sign of damage from this event, neither bruising or cratering. Initially the road was cleared and opened for a couple of days and then closed with weak excuses and platitudes about reopening for Matiriki and the school holidays," Mr Duff said.
Given the length of time, he wondered if it were not in a World Heritage area the road would never have been closed.
Initially a part of the road was closed for four days in early June when a section of cliff face up to 40m-long collapsed on to the road, between SH83 and Livingstone-Duntroon Rd.
The site was initially assessed by a geotech engineer and reopened four days later before being closed again after a week.
After the second closure the council said it was uncertain how long the road would remain closed — given the potential for further rockfalls.
This week, council said it still did not have a clear timeframe for when the road might reopen.
WDC roading manager Kushla Tapper said council had closed the road again due to the high risk of hundreds of tonnes of rock falling.
A geotechnical investigation found several hundred tonnes of rock precariously placed on a sloping ledge next to the road, she said.
"The closure had nothing to do with the road surface condition or the Unesco Whitestone Geopark."
The risk was of the rock on the overhang potentially falling on to the road and hitting road users.
"The council has been in contact with both Duntroon School, and the bus companies which service this route, and must emphasise that safety is a priority.
"We understand the frustration of the community, and we are working to reopen the road," Ms Tapper said.
She gave no timeframe for the work.
By Brendon McMahon
