KEY POINTS:
Emergency measures costing $4 million are needed to stabilise clifftop cracks that have appeared in a section of one of Auckland's most exclusive streets.
The cracks were discovered at the upper end of Cliff Rd in St Heliers during a $1 million project to try to stabilise another part of the clifftop, which has been eroding for a number of years. A preliminary report by the engineering firm Tonkin & Taylor confirmed slope instability and said there was a risk in the next six months to a year of the road slumping.
This could lead to damage to services such as water, sewerage, stormwater, phone, power and gas, and prevent access to homes.
"Risk to private property is considered low at this time," the report said.
Tonkin & Taylor has recommended to the Auckland City Council that the section of road between 61 and 69 Cliff Rd should be given "high priority" but the balance of land at Achilles Pt, leading to the start of Springcombe Rd, also needs stabilising.
The engineers are continuing to monitor boreholes in the area and modelling cliff edge stability for a final report, due this month.
A section of Cliff Rd, between the Springcombe Rd intersection and Achilles Pt - where All Black coach Graham Henry lives - has been closed to the public.
The Achilles Pt Lookout, Ladies Bay and Gentlemans Bay have also been closed while investigations continue.
Transport committee chairman Ken Baguley yesterday said he would be recommending at Thursday's committee meeting to proceed with the $4 million project under the emergency provisions of the Resource Management Act.
"It is one of those things. At the end of the day you just have to get on and do it. Otherwise it could turn into an emergency situation," he said.
Tonkin & Taylor has also expressed concerns about the small park at Achilles Pt, which has shown clear signs of ground movement.
A further section of Cliff Rd, near the $1 million project further down the road to stabilise a 100m section of the clifftop, is also being investigated by the engineers this month.
The council has kept locals informed of the issues.
