The Whakatāne District Council has issued a reminder to people who live in close proximity to escarpments of the need to take a precautionary approach to landslide risks.
Council Strategy and Planning General Manager David Bewley says the death of a Marahau woman as the result of a landslide in the Tasman District last weekend is a tragic reminder of the threat landslides represent.
“The 2011 death of a West End Road resident as the result of a landslide from the Ōhope escarpment also reinforces the need to take a cautious approach, especially when there are heavy rainfall warnings in place,” he says. “We know that both the Whakatāne and Ōhope escarpments are prone to landslide events during severe weather and particularly when daily rainfall totals exceed 100mm. Lesser rainfall totals can also trigger landslides if they follow a long period of wet weather.”
Mr Bewley suggests that anyone who lives at the base of the escarpments should monitor the slope above their homes for any signs of instability, such as cracks in the earth, ground slumpage, or loose rocks, and take particular note of the stability of large trees. “Large trees can add considerably to the destructive power of a landslide and the Council would encourage anyone with concerns about escarpment vegetation within their own property boundaries to seek advice from a qualified arborist. Soil stability issues can also be checked by a geotechnical engineer.”
Contact details for arborists and geotechnical engineers can be found in the Yellow Pages sections of local directories. Council staff may also be able to assist if the stability concerns relate to sections of the escarpments which are Council-owned reserve land.
“When there are heavy rainfall warnings in place, we would also advise people whose homes are near the escarpments to keep a close watch on the local situation and if there is very heavy rain over an extended period, residents should consider evacuating and staying with friends or family until the weather clears,” Mr Bewley concludes. “MetService offers an excellent on-line service covering severe weather warnings, including localised rain radar images showing where intense rain is falling and the direction weather systems are moving. That information can be found at www.metservice.com.”