RCL slated for poor state of Ruatiti Rd

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 615, 5 December 1995, Page 1

RCL slated for poor state of Ruatiti Rd

Ruatiti Road is not being maintained to an acceptable stand ard and the council's own company, Ruapehu Construction Limited (RCL), istoblame. That is according to Waimarino Community Board' s newest member, Gary Rawnsley , who has asked that the board discuss the matter at their meeting this Thursday . Mr Rawnsley says he is concerned "at the state our roads (which) have been allowed to deteriorate as a result of minimum attention by RCL". "Our gutters have not been cleaned out in a long time. That has caused culverts to fill and block with debris. Water is unable to exit via gutters to culverts and ... water has cut across the road with a washout being the end result," he states in a presentation to the council, which includes a series of photographs which he says "clearly show RCL is not doing its job". He includes a photograph of an old washout where identifying netting has fallen away and been "ignored by RCL and is a concern as someone could put a wheel over the edge". Other photos are included showing damage he says is attributable to poor maintenance on the part of RCL. "RCL must be made accountable." "It is imperative that we address the roading problems and come to a workable solution to have roads that are safe to use and are maintained to acceptable standards," he concludes. RCL not alone Council roading asset manager Jim Moore states in a report in the agenda that the problems on Ruatiti Road are "not necessarily all the responsibility of RCL". He says RCL is required to carry out an "annual shape grade" which includes clearing the water channel if there is one formed". "Forming new water channels and cleaning long lengths of partially blocked water channels is the responsibility of another contractor," he

adds. RCL can be ordered to undertake additional water channel cleaning as a variation to their contract. "It is a council problem if the road is not constructed in a state that meets all the requirements placed on it. For example, if the council had a water channel that was inadequate to take all stormwater in extreme events and the water flows over the road causing scouring, (this) would not be considered a negligent act of the contractors unless there was something that the contractor should have done according to the contract," Mr Moore stated. He said RCL are only required to carry out "immediate response work" on washouts. Mr Moore puts the delays in major repairs worth more than $20,000 down to Transit New Zealand who require that such work is tendered, often causing long delays. Unauthorised work He says some damage has been the result of some "alleged unauthorised work" as a result of a logging operation in the valley. "(The) logging operation has allegedly resulted in damage to the road and verge in the log loading area, damage to two bridge guard rails, filling in of water tables causing scouring and a washout, removal and damage to culvert pipes, damaging safety netting installed by RCL, removal of sealing chips from a council stockpile, driving of trucks through water table and undercutting banks," he stated in his report. He said council staff are seeking to recover costs of this damage. "Paris of Ruatiti Road are currently not suitable for use by some modern heavy traffic," added Mr Moore. "The reality is that it is not possible without considerable capital works ... to satisfy this demand." He said the council is looking at the performance of RCL but that "problems relating to the infrastructure of the road will take a lot longer to resolve."