Hastings District Council’s rebuild of a culvert at Patoka is being welcomed by farmers living in the area for the secure access it will now provide, more than two years after it was severely damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Situated on Hendley Rd in the Patoka district, the culvert was one of more than 2000 needing to be repaired – mostly in rural areas where they act as channels for water under roads, pathways and bridges.
For Gail and Greg Mitchell of Mitchell Dairy Farms, the culvert is a lifeline that provides access for the families on the three farms they own at the end of the road. The access ensures they can go about their everyday lives, getting children to and from school, and importantly allowing for the comings and goings of milk tankers and other farm supplies and needs.
Since the cyclone the crossing has been reduced to one lane, and for the Mitchells has caused ongoing concerns regarding the security and stability of the temporary access, as well as the prospect of potentially being cut off again in another weather event, said Mrs Mitchell.
“It makes a huge difference to us to have this new two-lane culvert repair completed – we can go about our business knowing the culvert is secure,” she said.
“With every bridge that’s rebuilt, every road returned to two lanes it feels like we are slowly putting the cyclone behind us.”
An innovative approach to rebuilding the culvert has seen materials re-purposed and solutions installed to protect the stream life underneath.
Material from the Chrystal Culvert build has been used at the Patoka site and the replacement is larger and more resilient, better equipped to handle heavy rain and future weather events – and the road above it has been expanded to two lanes from one.
With support from mana whenua, a safe passage for fish has been created through the culvert via a special ‘fish ladder’ (pictured) – an innovation that provides a kind of guide for the fish to travel upstream without disruption.
Mayor, Sandra Hazlehurst said that while everyone could see the importance of rebuilding and repairing large bridges that were heavily damaged or destroyed by the cyclone, these smaller projects were just as vital for communities and the local economy.
“It’s been great to see the innovation and cooperation that’s gone into this project and to know that the community now has safe, secure and resilient access – giving them peace of mind that they can go about their lives and business without worrying about the next weather event,” the Mayor said.
The construction cost for this project was $1.8 million – 83% of which was funded by New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
