Residents at an isolated Tararua community are desperate for full access to be restored to the area.
A section of Coast Rd, from Pongaroa to Ākitio, which runs through the Marainanga Gorge, was destroyed during Cyclone Gabrielle two weeks ago, cutting off a vital access road.
There is still access to Ākitio via River Rd and an unsealed road, Beach Hill Rd, which some residents don’t like using for safety reasons.
People who lived in the area spoke at the Tararua District Council meeting on Wednesday calling for action.
“We’re going to run out of fuel very shortly,” he said.
“The gorge won’t be open in a month, but we need to know something is going to happen before the winter.”
“It’s vital to have access and communication on the coast.”
Mark Wheeler lives on Coast Rd and he said reopening roads needed to be a priority, as some now were only accessible to 4WD.
He said Marainanga Gorge could end up being the area’s Manawatū Gorge.
“It is an integral part of the Tararua.”
Credit: stuff.co.nz
