Kauaeranga Valley clean up continues:

Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication.

DOC's Hauraki District staff are making good progress with the massive clean up job resulting from the ‘Tasman Tempest’ storms that swept the Coromandel Peninsula and other parts of the North Island in March.

Date: 26 July 2017

Staff with a large boulder on the Webb Creek track.
The Avalon Rope Access crew wrestling with a large boulder on the Webb Creek track

DOC's Hauraki operations manager Avi Holzapfel says the Kauaeranga Valley recreation facilities and infrastructure received extensive damage from the 'one-in-two hundred-year' flood event.

"Recent restoration work has focused on the Webb Creek track, about 45 minutes walk from the road end, with specialist contractors Avalon Rope Access brought in from Hamilton to blast away slip damage and unstable debris.

'A new, benched track is being constructed across the slip face, requiring the destruction of several large boulders above the new section of track and blasting a short section of new stairs leading up to it. The clearance took 47 blasts over seven days to complete.'

Avi Holzapfel says the nature of the terrain required the Rope Access team with its specialist skills to undertake the work, while DOC staff concentrated on dismantling the Webb creek swing bridge which was damaged by the debris from the slip.

'There is still a lot of work ahead of our dedicated team and we are hopeful all facilities will be open again in time for the Labour Weekend holiday in October 2017.'

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