The old Gore landfill was exposed when floodwaters scoured the banks of the Waikaka Stream, near Hamilton Park, during the flood.
Last week, engineers found the landfill was vulnerable to further erosion and scouring, and required immediate interim work.
The Gore District Council has begun installing an interim fix which is expected to be finished by next week.
Transport manager Peter Standring said layers of geotextile and geogrid would be placed over the exposed areas to prevent landfill material entering the river and help reduce further bank erosion.
Fencing was being put up at Gore to keep people and animals away from the potential unstable sections of the riverbank. Weekly site inspections would be carried out.
Next week, further assessment will be completed using an aeroplane.
‘‘The survey will give us a basis for future monitoring and a profile of the exposed areas for any engineering design solutions,’’ Mr Standring said.
The Mataura site, which is on the banks of the Waimumu Stream near State Highway 1, was comparatively stable and suited to a single, long-term solution.
Mr Standring said the council was committed to minimising the impact on the environment and community.
The Waikaka walkway, at Hamilton Park, has been affected by the scouring and remains closed.
Emergency Management Southland yesterday encouraged people to check on family, friends, and neighbours as people still grappled with the aftermath of the emergency.
Emergency Management Southland duty controller Bruce Halligan said, “We really want to highlight the support that is available for people affected by this significant flood event. Help is available if you need it.”
Meanwhile, 12 applications for emergency financial support from the Southland Mayoral Relief Fund had been received as of yesterday morning.
The relief fund is available to help people affected by the floods.
The fund provides assistance on a one-off basis for extraordinary circumstances, where real need can be shown.
