Stranded Mangamahu waits for a lifeline

The collapse of the Ngaturi Bridge on Sunday has left Mangamahu stranded. Picture / Kirsty Head

Discussions were under way yesterday on how to restore access to the cut-off township of Mangamahu after the collapse of the Ngaturi Bridge on Sunday.

The bridge is on the Mangawhero River.

Army engineers from Linton met the engineering team from Wanganui District Council and consulting engineers Opus to discuss options to provide access to Mangamahu, 45km northeast of Wanganui. Options will then be presented to the council.

Council public information manager Sue Dudman said the group was just talking about possibilities yesterday - "like putting in a Bailey bridge or something like that".

They were to inspect the site of the bridge collapse and put options together for the council to consider.

"The solution may not be quick but we need to make a decision fairly quickly on what to do," she said.

Access to Mangamahu from the north has also been cut with the closure of Te Rimu Rd. The road was opened earlier but after inspection on Monday morning, it was considered too dangerous for vehicles.

Civil Defence is working on plans to get essential provisions to Mangamahu.

As well as using helicopters, the possibility of setting up a flying fox system is being investigated.

Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton said he was impressed by the resilience of the community when he visited it on Monday.

He said the locals were "good-humoured" given the problems they were facing.

"It is a typical example of the endurance of these rural communities," said Mr Anderton.

"If it happened in Ponsonby Rd they'd probably be having a nervous breakdown," he said.

- NZPA