No quick fix for big Hunterville slip

IT'S LIKELY to take about three months for the 4500 cubic metres of hillside that spilt on to two Hunterville properties to be moved.
The dirt, or slush, is so sloppy that the possibility of moving it off-site was ruled out by officials yesterday.
On Thursday, 78-year-old pensioner Joyce Tod's morning was rudely interrupted as the farmland slowly crept on to her property.
Yesterday, Hunterville's Stewart St was a hub of activity as media, residents, politicians and tourists checked out the mass of dirt.
Joy Monks even baked cheese and date scones for officials and contractors to keep their energy up.
Contractors successfully cleared Gordon Tce ? the road at the end of Stewart St ? enabling residents to get home.
GHD Consultant engineer Charl Alberts was originally planning on moving the dirt to another site, but because of its "slushy" consistency it was decided to leave it on site to dry.
"Once we put it on a truck it will run out and cause slipping on the road."
Rangitikei District Council (RDC) engineering services manager Claire Scrimgeour said the dirt would now have to be left to dry ? a process that could take "a few months".
Suggestions of using the dirt to fill a gigantic hole on Onga Rd were bypassed for now, because dry fill was preferred.
An adjacent railway line is also in the back of officials' minds, Mrs Scrimgeour said, and could be a "potential issue" if the landslide decided to move much more.
Contractors had also cleared a passageway at the back of Mrs Tod's and Steve and Joyce Monks' properties.
Mr Monks said officials had told him the slip measured 230m from top to bottom.
The resident of 30 years said he had never seen a landslide that size before but wasn't too fazed.
"I'm quite happy. We'll stay here until we have to move; it's just a part of life.
"You can't just throw your toys because it's not going to do anything? I am surprised at the amount of dirt that came down, though."
Mrs Scrimgeour said the Earthquake Commission (EQC) was assessing damage to properties and liaising with insurance companies and homeowners.
RDC acting chief executive Dorstan Hayman said a contractor would keep an eye on the slip overnight to watch for any movement.
Geologists from GNS and Tonkin and Taylor, representing EQC, expected further material to fall at the head of the slip at the top of the hill.
However, Mr Hayman said it would be impossible to predict when that would occur.
Three other occupied homes were at "small risk" because of the short distance from the head of the slip.
Minor earth bunds had been constructed to direct further movement of the slip away from these houses and Mrs Tod's home.
The MetService was predicting rain with some heavy falls last night, which may put the affected homes at further risk.
Rangitikei MP Simon Power also popped in for a brief visit on his way around the district for meetings yesterday, saying photos in newspapers and on television didn't do justice to the slip, which had to be seen up close.