A race against time and tide continues along Beach Rd, south of Oamaru, to stop further coastal erosion and shore up the road by the end of the month.
A few kilometres north, questions are being asked about why there is no plan to tackle a 65m-wide coastal erosion zone that includes Waitaki Boys’ High School land.
Historically, the Waitaki district has experienced dramatic shoreline retreat.
This has been focused on several "hot spots", such as Beach Rd, Kakanui, Oamaru to the Waitaki River, Hampden and Katiki Beach.
A study conducted by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research for the Otago Regional Council in 2019 analysed the inundation and erosion hazards along the Waitaki district coast.
The report recommended further study to refine extreme water level and wave run-up assessments and revise anticipated inundation hazard zones.
Receiving immediate attention is the erosion on Beach Rd.
This month, Waimate earthmoving company Aviemore Irrigation is working to strengthen and reinforce eroded clay cliffs, providing protection for the road and local vegetation.
A Waitaki District Council spokesperson said Aviemore was doing the same kind of rock protection work that had been implemented successfully in the past 15 years.
The work involved "burying a rock toe, stacking the [local] rock and battering the slope with overburden material from a local quarry, forming a nice ‘knitted-in’ surface which reduces erosion and supports quick re-vegetation", the spokesperson said.
At the north end of Oamaru, Waitaki Boys’ High School rector Darryl Paterson is wondering why he has not heard about what will be done to tackle coastal erosion that could threaten the school.
Last year, the Ministry of Education engaged engineering company Beca to assess the threat posed to the school by the 65m-wide erosion zone.
Despite numerous follow-ups, he was yet to receive the formal report, Mr Paterson said.
"We should have received it by now and I have sent a number of reminders, but still nothing."
The Beach Rd work, which was due to be completed next Friday, would slow erosion as well as enabling better beach access for people and local wildlife, the council spokesperson said.
"The battered slope reduces the occurrence of collapse of the vertical clay cliffs, which was causing further land loss."
The Beach Rd repair relies on low-tide access, so the road is closed from 7am to 5pm each day until next Friday.
During that time, access to Old Bones Lodge will be from Thousand Acre and Gardiners Rds.
- By Jules Chin
