SH59 Pukerua Bay Hillside Stabilisation

/ / Announcements, Road safety, Shared Pathways & Cycleways, Transport

Waka Kotahi has provided an update on the measures being taken to lessen the threat of further slips. This work is going to several weeks. The opening of Transmission Gully provides an opportunity to undertake remedial work that would be a far more difficult undertaking were the route still State Highway 1.

SLIP CONTROL, PUKERUA BAY HILLSIDE SAFETY PROJECT: UPDATE 26 August 2022

A hillside safety project is underway to help prevent further slips on the State Highway 59 coast road leading up to Pukerua Bay. Wellington Transport Alliance crews are removing a large overhang of soil and trees above the slip face to prevent further slips. A deep fracture in the ground behind the overhang at the top of the hill means this area is very unstable and could break away at any time.

Hillside slip control

The road between Fisherman’s Table and the northern end of Pukerua Bay has become a worksite and must remain closed for everyone’s safety, not just because of the risk of a slip but because of the machines operating in the area. The safety project could take some weeks, depending on conditions. The hillside diagram, shown over the page, illustrates the overhang and the fractured ground and highlights the work that is planned to reshape the hill and prevent further slips.

Multiple works, including road and barrier repairs, tree pruning and other maintenance, are taking place to make the most of the closure.

The hillside is being inspected daily to assess when pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles can be allowed back in the area. Meanwhile, pedestrians and cyclists can use the Pukerua Bay off-road beach walking track to bypass the works but must exercise caution for high tides and weather conditions. The soft beach sand and the slope leading up to the layby at the bottom of the hill make for difficult going, particularly for cyclists. A fenced-off path has been created around the layby to keep path users safe from moving machinery. The path beside the seawall north of the layby can be used and we ask people to stay on the path and not to walk or cycle on the road as work trucks and machinery are using the area.

Please contact: customer@wta.nzta.govt.nz with your queries.

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Kāinga Ora considers using Urban Development Act housing provisions

/ / Consultation, Housing

Kāinga Ora and Porirua City Council (PCC) have announced a plan to look at the Northern Growth Area to the south of Pukerua Bay as a ‘Specified Development Project’ to manage housing developments in the area. The Kāinga Ora media release is below.

Links: Kāinga Ora media release on Scoop; background on Kāinga Ora’s Specified Development Projects.

The Residents Association has prepared a statement in response:

“This is a very surprising decision and there is a lot we need to learn to come to grips with it. We know that there is pressure on housing in the region and a strong demand for it. However, we are concerned about the potential impacts on local communities, and the loss of the local voice in decisions. We have worked with Porirua City Council over many years on the 30-year Northern Growth Plan, and we are currently preparing submissions on changes to the District Plan to allow new housing developments in Pukerua Bay. We would be very concerned to lose the ability to influence decisions affecting our communities if PCC is sidelined from the decision-making process. We would expect to be included as key stakeholders in any decisions Kāinga Ora is making that will affect local communities in this area.”

…

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Kāinga Ora considers using Urban Development Act housing provisions Read More »

SH59 Cyclists and pedestrians access to Paekakariki

/ / Announcements, Road safety, Shared Pathways & Cycleways

Waka Kotahi has advised the following

Since the slip on Friday 19 August, the coast road between Fisherman’s Table and Pukerua Bay has been closed for the clean-up and to protect road users if there are further slips. It will be closed for a few more weeks for hillside safety works to reduce the risk further.

The road has become a worksite with barriers to keep people out for their safety.

  • Please do not enter the slip control works area on the hill.
  • People using the off-road beach walking track to bypass the works can use the path beside the seawall to head north once they leave the layby at the bottom of the hill.
  • Please do not walk or cycle on the road north of the layby as work trucks are using the area and road repairs are also being done. Stick to the path.
  • A path has been created from the beach walking track around the layby at the bottom of the hill with a barrier to keep you safe from moving machinery.
  • Access via the beach walking track depends on the weather and high tides. Please exercise caution.
  • We will continually monitor the situation to see when it will safe for pedestrians and road users to return to the road past the slip area.

Please contact: customer@wta.nzta.govt.nz with your queries.

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State Highway 59 facing longer-term closure because of slip risk – impact on pedestrians and cyclists

/ / Erosion, Road safety, Transport

Update from Waka Kotahi yesterday, 22 August

State Highway 59 between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay will remain closed until further notice.

The highway has been closed since Friday, 19 August after multiple slips. Further assessments over the weekend determined the slip site remains unpredictable. Making the site safe is a significant job, and it could take several weeks before it can reopen to traffic.

Now that work has commenced cyclists and pedestrians will not be able to pass through the wider worksite, due to the ongoing risk of material falling from the slip site and heavy vehicles and machinery  moving around the wider area.

Additional barriers and fencing will be installed at the northern end of Coast Road, across the road at Fisherman’s Table and the southern end at the Pukerua Bay bottom carpark. We ask all pedestrians and cyclists to avoid the area please.

As work progresses we will review each stage to determine whether it will be safe to pass through, and we will provide updates. This work is likely to take several weeks, which we appreciate is inconvenient for locals, but your safety is our priority.

We thank you for your patience and understanding.

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Workshop on preparing submissions on district plan change to allow more housing around Pukerua Bay

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Porirua City Council is proposing to change the District Plan to allow housing subdivisions around Pukerua Bay. They have published a variation to the District Plan that will allow that to happen and want the community’s feedback on the proposed new plan. You can read the proposed District Plan here.

Submissions on the changes are due on Monday 12 September.

PCC has organised a ‘Friend of the Submitter’, Emily Bayliss, to help submitters. Emily is a qualified planner who is fully independent and has had no involvement in developing the Proposed District Plan.

A brief introduction from Emily is available here.

We have organised for Emily to come to a session at the RSA on Sunday 28 August, to give some advice on making submissions on the variation. This will be a good opportunity to identify the key issues to submit on, how to write a useful submission and what PCC needs to hear from us.

You can contact Emily separately by emailing FriendofSubmittersPDP@poriruacity.govt.nz or by ringing 021 532 284.

You can also talk to the Council planners about the changes. If you would like to make an appointment to talk to a member of the planning team please email dpreview@pcc.govt.nz or call on 237 5089

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SH59 Pukerua Bay to Paekākāriki closed until further notice

/ / Erosion, Road safety, Transport

Latest update from Waka Kotahi

FYI – State Highway 59 facing longer-term closure because of slip risk

State Highway 59 between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay will remain closed until further notice.

The highway has been closed since Friday, 19 August after multiple slips. However, further assessments over the weekend show the slip site remains highly unstable.

Making the site safe will be a significant job, and it could take several weeks before it can reopen to traffic.

A further update on its status will be provided on Friday 26 August. Work is underway to determine the best options for fixing and reopening the highway.

Pukerua Bay residents can access from the south. Paekākāriki resident access is to the north.

All other road users should avoid the area and use State Highway 1, Transmission Gully, as an alternative route.

We want to thank road users and residents for their patience and understanding as your safety is our first priority.

SH59 Pukerua Bay to Paekākāriki closed until further notice Read More »

Train replacement buses disrupted by SH59 closure

/ / Announcements, Transport

The latest from Metlink:

Kapiti Line: Bus replacement services are now shuttling between Waikanae and Porirua and Pukerua Bay and Porirua until further notice due to slips

Last updated: 8:50am Saturday 20 August

Due to further slips on SH59, Kapiti Line bus replacement services will now shuttle from Waikanae to Porirua as buses and then shuttle from Porirua to Pukerua Bay via a shuttle bus. Limited capacity is available, please expect delays and arrange alternate transport where possible.

Service change due to weather or natural disaster

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Saturday 20 Aug – State Highway 59 to remain CLOSED

/ / Announcements, Erosion, Road safety

UPDATE FROM NZTA.

FYI – State Highway 59 remains CLOSED due to slips

State Highway 59 between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay remains closed today, with large slips still to be cleared by roading crews.

The highway was closed yesterday and overnight after slips yesterday. This morning, further slips have come down along this section of road.

Contractors are working hard to restore the road. However, continuing rain means the chance of further slips remains.

This section of State Highway 59 will remain closed today, Saturday 20 August, and a further update on its status will be provided tomorrow morning, Sunday 21 August, or as soon as the road opens.

Pukerua Bay residents can access from the south. Paekākāriki resident access is to the north. All other road users should avoid the area and use State Highway 1, Transmission Gully, as an alternative route.

Bad weather continues to affect Wellington, with numerous slips, rockfalls, and fallen trees on roads across the region. Road users should check roads are open before they travel, drive to the conditions, watch their following distances, and be prepared for delays.

Saturday 20 Aug – State Highway 59 to remain CLOSED Read More »

SH 59 Closed to Paekakariki

/ / Announcements, Road safety

From NZTA

FYI – State Highway 59 to remain CLOSED overnight

State Highway 59 between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay will remain closed following a further slip on the route this afternoon.

The highway was closed by a slip this morning. However, a second slip came down this afternoon, further blocking the road.

At this stage, the slope is too unstable for the route to reopen, and it will stay closed overnight. An update on its status will be provided by midday tomorrow, Saturday 20 August.

Road users should avoid the area and use State Highway 1, Transmission Gully, as an alternative route.

Bad weather continues to affect Wellington. Slips, rockfalls, and fallen trees are dangers on roads across the region. Road users should drive to the conditions, watch their following distances, and keep an eye out for road hazards.

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State Highway 59 closed to Paekākāriki

/ / Announcements, Road safety

State Highway 59 is closed between Pukerua Bay and Paekākāriki due to a slip at Arlie Road. Crews are also on-site dealing with fallen trees at Motuhara Road in Plimmerton and around Grays Road. High tide is at 2pm, and there is more rain forecast, Porirua City Council advises drivers to please take extra care and report any issues via the Antenno app (Android, Apple), or phone 04 237 5089.

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