Gisborne District Council is warning people to stay away from a part of the Hangaroa River because of a large landslide. They said not to go to the river below Bushy Knoll Road.
Murry Cave, the council’s main scientist, explained that the land is very unstable after the landslide in June. There is a lot of loose material that is holding a lot of water, and it could collapse at any moment. “We expect this landslide to fail without warning. If it does, it could cause a debris flow that might reach the Hangaroa River and move downstream like a flood,” he said.
Cave mentioned that the landslide is likely to fall during or after heavy rain, but it could also fall without any rain. He advises anyone thinking of going to the Hangaroa River below Bushy Knoll Road to avoid the area until the council says it is safe.
The council has seen several similar failures in the last month. If anyone notices unusual activity on their land, they should contact the council.
