Geotechnical engineers are continuing this week to assess slip risks surrounding a number of structures at the base of Mauao following the landslide that tragically claimed six lives on 22 January.
Pilot Bay boat ramp
The Pilot Bay boat ramp at the base of Mauao will be closed for the foreseeable future while the slip hazard adjacent to the ramp and elsewhere on Mauao continues to be assessed.
Those geotechnical experts have advised that the public should be excluded from the boat ramp as there remains a high risk of further slips in the areas around where the main slip occurred on Mauao.
Tauranga City Council Recovery Manager Paula Naude says the whole area continues to be monitored by engineers.
“Further information, especially following the next heavy rainfall, may help give greater confidence in determining the likelihood of a slip,” Paula says.
“However, until the slip hazard has been reduced to an acceptable level, the boat ramp will remain closed.”
Pilot Bay boat ramp is closed
Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service
There were a number of large slips on the slope behind the surf club during the severe rainfall event. In addition, there were cracks in the track across this slope that suggested further movement could be likely, especially when we have more significant rainfall.
“As a result of this risk, and on the advice of geotechnical engineers, our building team issued a red building placard for the surf club building under the CDEM Act.
The geotechnical engineers are currently undertaking further assessments and preparing a risk assessment, that should allow us to put controls in place and reconsider whether the red placard remains appropriate,” Paula says
“This step, and especially as the geotechnical engineers will have further confidence following our next significant rainfall, is expected to allow the surf club to be safely reoccupied in due course.”
Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service
The Mount Hot Pools and Campground area
As part of the geotechnical assessment for this area, an automated alarm system is in place which will sound should there be further landslips.
Shipping containers have been installed beside the footpath along Adams Avenue (between Maunganui Road and The Mall) as a precautionary measure to stop any potential debris movement.
If people are near the fencing when an alarm goes off, they’re advised to move away from the area as quickly as possible.
People are encouraged to visit the area and support local businesses, but we ask them to respect the no-go zones, fencing, signage and on-site instructions. Operational and assessment work is ongoing, and vehicles may still be operating in the area.
Mauao remains closed
Recent monitoring and inspections have identified instability on sections of the maunga, including areas where rockfall and landslip risk has increased.
There are currently 40 landslips on Mauao, 29 of them are on the base track.
Closing Mauao is to reduce the likelihood of injury or harm while further assessments and mitigation work is undertaken. Public safety is the primary driver for this closure, and access will remain restricted until experts are confident the risks can be managed to an acceptable level.
Council will be working closely with the Mauao Trust to ensure appropriate planning and works are undertaken to ensure safety before public access.
The Mauao Trust are yet to discuss with the Iwi the terms of closure for Mauao.