Key Takeaways
- Major slips have cut off Ōakura Bay in Northland, with roads to Whangārei and the north closed due to washed-out bridges and massive landslides.
- Residents are well-prepared with supplies, but may be isolated for days, with cleanup efforts underway despite the challenges.
- The Ōakura Community Hall has suffered significant damage, with an estimated 60 cubic meters of mud, trees, and debris filling the hall after a slip smashed through the back wall.
- Locals are in good spirits, making the most of the sunshine to clean up and pump out properties, with volunteers likely to be needed to clear out the hall using buckets and wheelbarrows.
Introduction to the Situation
Residents of Northland’s Ōakura Bay are facing a challenging situation after major slips have cut off access to Whangārei and the north. The road to the north has been closed since Sunday’s deluge washed out a bridge approach at Ngaiotonga, and another 200mm of rain on Wednesday triggered a massive slip at Helena Bay Hill on the road south to Whangārei. This has left residents isolated, with no clear timeline for when the roads will be cleared. Despite the challenges, locals are making the most of the sunshine to clean up and pump out their properties, with a sense of community and resilience evident in the face of adversity.
The Impact on Infrastructure
The Ōakura Community Hall, a newly renovated and much-used community hub, has suffered significant damage after a slip smashed through the back wall, pouring mud, trees, and debris into the hall. The estimated 60 cubic meters of debris has filled the hall, with water continuing to flow through the building. An insurance assessor has inspected the building, but council and EQC engineers are now waiting for access to inspect the rear of the building and determine the extent of the damage. The hall will likely need to be cleared out by volunteers using buckets and wheelbarrows, although sucker trucks may be able to remove some of the mud. The damage to the hall is a significant blow to the community, but locals are already planning the cleanup efforts and looking to the future.
Community Response
Despite the challenges, residents of Ōakura Bay are in good spirits and well-prepared with supplies. Glenn Ferguson, chairman of the local reserves board, said that locals were making the most of the sunshine to carry on cleaning up and pumping out their properties. The community is coming together to support each other, with a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose evident in the face of adversity. Ferguson noted that the road closure was not unprecedented, and that residents were accustomed to the challenges of living in a beautiful but rugged area. "So we can’t go north, we can’t go south. We’ve had it before, and I guess we’ll have again in the future. I think it’s just part of living in paradise out here."
Cleanup Efforts
The cleanup efforts are already underway, with locals using pumps to clear out low-lying properties and garages. The sunshine has provided a welcome opportunity for residents to make progress on the cleanup, and the community is rallying around to support each other. Ferguson said that locals were upbeat and just getting on with the cleanup, using the resources available to them to make the most of the situation. The use of drones to capture images of the massive slip at Helena Bay Hill has also provided valuable insights into the extent of the damage, and will help inform the cleanup efforts in the days ahead.
Looking to the Future
As the community looks to the future, there is a sense of uncertainty about when the roads will be cleared and life will return to normal. However, residents are resilient and resourceful, and are already planning for the long-term recovery efforts. The cleanup of the Ōakura Community Hall will be a major priority, with volunteers likely to be needed to clear out the debris and restore the building to its former state. Despite the challenges, the sense of community and camaraderie in Ōakura Bay is strong, and residents are confident that they will emerge from this difficult period even stronger and more united than before.
