Rail bridge to the rescue of flood-ravaged Matata

The ravaged Bay of Plenty town of Matata has been earmarked for a new rail bridge which it is hoped will guard the town against further flood damage.

Rail infrastructure company Ontrack says it hopes to replace temporary culverts at Matata as soon as the consultation process by Environment Bay of Plenty is completed.

Matata endured a 24-hour, 150mm, deluge at the weekend which further disrupted life in a town still struggling to recover from floods last May.

Ontrack's chief operating officer, William Peet, said that before the May floods it had already developed plans for a $600,000, steel-reinforced, concrete bridge.

It installed five culverts as a temporary measure to handle runoff.

"We have every sympathy for people in the area who live with the fear that their lives will be disrupted by surface flooding," Mr Peet said.

The bridge would replace the culverts and prevent the build-up of debris which caused the flooding, he said.

Mr Peet said Ontrack was waiting for the Whakatane District Council to process submissions on the plan and to hold a hearing.

"Once we get the green light it is likely to take us between four and six months to complete design work and construct the new bridge."

The line that passes through Matata links Kawerau with the Port of Tauranga and is used extensively to carry wood products.

- NZPA