A bridge on No 4 Road in Te Puke has been washed out. Photo / Tyson Smith
A bridge on No 4 Road in Te Puke has been washed out. Photo / Tyson Smith
About 30 properties in Te Puke could be isolated “for at least a couple of days” after a bridge washed out just upstream of the Raparapahoe Stream.
The bridge was on No 4 Road in Te Puke and the council have been working with affected residents.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council civil defence controller Peter Watson said it had made contact with as many of those affected as possible and estimated about 30 properties located upstream of the bridge had been impacted.
“Providing access and monitoring the welfare of these residents is a priority for us. But given the water levels, sodden grounds and other contraints we have to explore a number of access options.
“Which is why we’re organising a meeting with these affected residents in the next couple of days to discuss alternative access options involving private property. Given the weather and logistics it could mean these properties will be isolated for at least a couple of days.”
Watson said engineers were investigating bridge replacement solutions such as a Bailey Bridge (portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge).
A private emergency access track was still being assessed.
“The issue we are facing is a private bridge at the Manoeka Road end of the track may also be damaged and/or restricted due to water levels. The bridge forms part of the emergency access.”
The council asked neighbours to check in on each other to share the latest news if they knew someone who might be unaware.
Craig Jeffries, who owns an orchard on No 4 Rd in Te Puke, said the bridge being washed away was “a major issue” for people getting in and out in their day-to-day lives.
“We’re only [a] maximum [of] three months away from harvest, and we’ve got a whole heap of fruit to get out of No 4 again. It’s going to be a big deal,” he said.
“Whatever fix they put in place is going to have to be quite significant in order to get trucks out.”
A bridge on No 4 Road in Te Puke has been washed out.
Rainbow Boarding Kennels and Cattery co-owner Jan Quinn, whose business is on No 4 Rd, said access was “gone”.
“The Raparapahoe Stream [has] obviously been inundated last night - the water level height has gone up and has basically gone through the whole bridge. So, the bridge has gone.”
The bridge was probably about 400 or 500 yards [365 to 457 metres] from the bottom of their driveway, she said.
Quinn said Rainbow Boardng was looking after 20 dogs and about 15 cats, and all were safe. She had contacted the pets’ owners to let them know they may not be able to pick them up until access is restored.
“Once small vehicle access [is possible], we can obviously allow our guests to depart.”
She had also contacted future bookings to let them know it could not honour them until access was restored and pets were picked up.
Quinn said her residential access was on the same site as the kennels and cattery.
“With all the rain last night, we were down there three or four times anyway just to make sure that everybody [was] okay, because just like us, not everybody handles things the same way. So, we were down there with pyjamas, wellies, raincoats and torches just to check on guests,” she said.
“This bridge going down has got the capacity to have a major impact on the economic structure for Te Puke and the orchards ... because kiwifruit picking starts in six weeks.”
