Walkers add to difficulties for workers restoring the Mount

Heavy machinery works on cleaning up one of the major slips on Mt Maunganui. Picture / Alan Gibson

Rain, steep slopes and problems with pedestrians are hampering the cleanup of Mauao, the mountain at Mt Maunganui, after last month's flood damage.

The 232m volcanic cone, at the north end of the beach town, has been closed to pedestrians since the floods on May 18 caused nearly 40 slips. The largest landslide swept tonnes of mud into the sea and was visible on the other side of Tauranga Harbour.

Tauranga City Council asset monitoring officer David Green said yesterday that it was likely to be at least two weeks before Mauao reopened to pedestrians.

He said rain in the weekend had slowed the progress of diggers working to clear a popular track around the mountain's base. Parts were covered in more than 2m of mud and the diggers were unable to start work until the ground was stable. "Initially, it was just like quicksand," Mr Green said.

He said getting the diggers on to the mountain had proved a challenge and in the end they were winched down the slopes.

Pedestrians had added to problems by refusing to stay off the mountain.

More than 5000 people a day use Mauao's tracks when they are open, and many are anxious to return.

Police have been called four times - most recently on Sunday - after walkers refused to heed warnings from security guards that they were trespassing.

The Herald was allowed on to Mauao yesterday to survey the damage up close.

An area that was once a beach is now half its original size thanks to mud and debris.

Mr Green said areas affected by slips would be fenced before pedestrians were allowed back on the mountain.

About 30 workers from four contracting companies have been involved in the cleanup.

The effort so far has cost $200,000.