$250,000 flood damage

Ruapehu Bulletin, 10 September 1991, Page 2

$250,000 flood damage

Ruapehu District's $200,000 road flood damage fund has dried up, plus $50,000, following 44 days of rain through July and August. Council contractors were commended for their work in the Waimarino area following the flood damage, by

the Waimarino Community Board last Thursday. Some roads were blocked for short periods during the bad weather but staff worked hard to keep roads open as much as possible, the board heard. One family in the Makakahi Valley was cut

off for five days and limited access was available on the Ruatiti Valley Road. Contractors took two weeks to clear one slip when "a whole hillside" slipped onto the road. The other worst hit area was the Wanganui River Road near Pipiriki. Damage in the southern area was esti-

mated at $100,000 worth. Area engineer Don Sattler said generally the roads were now back to normal with the last of the clean-up work due to be finished at the end of this week. He said plans were being looked at to build retaining walls in some areas to hold the roads up or to tie in the

toes of slips. Also, local farmers were being asked what machinery was available for use in emergency road clear ing work, in preparation for next time. With all the flood damage work, normal maintenance work has been put aside until now, said Mr Sattler.