Otautau pest controller Shane Wilson said he came across the destroyed access road, which is west of Riverton, during a routine trip to check his traps.
He managed to rope off the danger te araroa trailzone using a blue tarpaulin, but was concerned the massive slip area would continue to grow after he noticed cracks and land movement on the downhill side of the damaged road.
"But this one ... it’s totally impassable. Just before it, about 150m-200m, there’s a secondary slip starting.
"You can see a crack along the side of the road, so there’s going to be another one that will happen there soon."
The damaged area was still seeping water from a ponded area on the high side of the road. He expected any more rain would further deteriorate the already unstable land.
An "underground" power cable to a repeater station at the top of Bald Hill was visible across the gaping hole.
A back-up diesel generator was installed at the communications site.
"But if either of those fail, they can’t get up there unless it’s by helicopter — one way in, one way out".
Mr Wilson contacted possible landowners and the Department of Conservation, but was told the department only managed the land, not the road maintenance, and the landowners also denied responsibility for the road.
An Environment Southland Bald Hill rain sensor site registered 206mm of rainfall in the past week — the heaviest fall of 179mm on January 24 and 25.
The Southland District Council had placed a public notice on its social media sites to warn people of the danger.
By Toni McDonald
