Walters Bluff latest example in continued August storm recovery

Nelson’s recovery from the August 2022 weather event is continuing, with one of the recent accomplishments being the completion of remediation works on Walters Bluff Reserve.

Much of the work was focused on removal of slip material from the reserve below Davis Drive to reduce the risk of the slip tumbling onto the road below, or the potential collapse of the walking track.

About 400 cubic metres of slip material had to be removed along with eight trees that had became dislodged, as well as other vegetation that got caught in the landslide.

Nelson City Council’s group manager infrastructure Alec Louverdis says that while the work was a success, it wasn’t without its challenges.

“We needed to minimise risk to private property.”

Several measures were undertaken to minimise risk such as installing a safety barrier below the slip, temporarily reducing road access to one lane while a large stump was winched up the slope, using two excavators – one to remove slip material and the other to load the debris onto a truck – and only carrying out work when the ground was dry while also regularly checking ground stability.

Dislodged trees will be replanted with natives and the slip face will be hydroseeded in the spring to get quicker growth. Poplar trees will also be replanted on the Bluff below the bench track to stabilise the ground.

“Completing work like this to a high standard and within a reasonable timeframe is core to Nelson’s recovery from the August weather event,” Alec says.

The remediation works on Walters Bluff cost $240,000 - just a fraction of the $77.1 million needed for the rest of the recovery from the August 2022 weather event.

In the 2023/24 financial year, the cost for ratepayers is estimated to be $19.6 million, which includes $8 million approved by council in May specifically for slip remediation work.