Road to Recovery: Tapu-Coroglen Rd, business support and AA services
Published on 01 June 2023
As we head into the winter months, we continue with the work to rebuild and recover since Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle hit in January and February. Ongoing wet weather is hampering some progress on some road repairs, but the positive side is planning and work to get us in a better state for summer is full steam ahead.
Tapu-Coroglen Road reopening now expected by end of year
Our latest geotechnical investigations have revealed that a large slip is forming on the slope above the road at the same site. This means our anticipated quick temporary fix to reopen the road in June by cutting into the hill to widen the width of the road to one lane of traffic is no longer possible. Instead, we expect the road to be fully rebuilt and opened by the end of the year.
To support the new slip, a retaining wall to protect the road from the unstable slope above will need to be built at the same time as the retaining wall to support the road is built from the river below.
The tender for the works is intended to go out at the end of the June, and a contractor should be appointed by mid-August. Weather and ground conditions permitting, we expect the road to be reopened by the end of the year.
We understand how important this route is for some people and we appreciate there’ll be disappointment with this latest news, but we have to prioritise the safety of road users and contractors working to reopen the road. Tapu-Coroglen Rd is a priority project for our Council.
The slip site is about 10km east of Tapu. Properties on either side of the slip area are accessible. Please don’t try to access the closed portion of the road surrounding the slip site. The site is dangerous and may move at any time. Anyone ignoring the road closure do so at their own risk.
Collaboration on roading network workshops
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has started a series of four workshops to identify long-term problems related to natural hazards that affect the resilience of the State Highway network and some of our local Council-managed roads. These workshops sit outside the immediate recovery work already taking place on State Highways and local Council roads in the Coromandel.
The workshops are intended to:
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gain an in-depth understanding of problems and challenges our communities face moving around and what the barriers to staying connected across the Coromandel are, and the evidence of this
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Identify a range of alternatives and options to respond to the issues identified
The outcome of the workshops will be used to build a case for investment to improve the roading network so it’s better able to withstand extreme weather and other anticipated natural hazards such as sea-level rise.
The State Highways are primarily the consideration but four local roads that are critical as alternatives or that provide access to significant parts of our district’s population could also benefit: The Tapu-Coroglen Road, The 309 Road and Colville and Kennedy Bay roads north of Coromandel Town.
“This is a good initiative from Waka Kotahi collaborating with our Council and building on the working relationship we have with the agency, sharing our joint expertise and knowledge,” says our Mayor Len Salt. “Both Waka Kotahi and our Council want to ensure that there is alignment between the two organisations and other partners in the strategic direction for transport in the district and surrounding area.”
The third and final allocation of the government’s Business Recovery Grants funding that our Council was distributing in Waikato region on behalf of the government has now been disbursed.
A total of approximately $8.1 million has now been distributed to 501 applicants.
Our Council is continuing to lobby the government for tailored support for cyclone-affected businesses and we’re working with business associations around the district to support businesses in each ward.
Government recovery packages
In its budget earlier this month, the government announced a National Resilience Plan, with $6 billion set aside for strategic investments. We don’t know exactly what this will mean for our district as yet, but we continue to work closely with Waka Kotahi and other agencies on ongoing support for our communities.
For more information on the budget announcement and on finding support – whether it’s for your business or for your mental health – see the National Emergency Management Agency’s weekly updates from the Cyclone Recovery Unit. Read their latest update here.
AA services available in Whangamatā and Whitianga
Because of the long-term closure of SH25A, we’ve worked with AA and Waka Kotahi to make AA services more available twice monthly in Whangamatā and Whitianga.
AA’s mobile unit can complete all the transactions that are done at the Thames counter with the exclusion of motor vehicle registration and plate transactions:
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All driver licensing transactions (except overseas conversions)
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AA Membership renewals and new joins
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RealMe Identity verification
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IRD personal number applications
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SuperGold – image request for card
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International Driving Permits
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Passport Photos
Where and when:
Whangamatā War Memorial Hall, 328 Port Rd
9am-4pm, except 12:45-1:15pm for lunch break
6 & 19 June
7 & 17 July
7 & 21 Aug
Whitianga TCDC Board Room, 10 Monk St (through the back car park)
8:30am-4:30pm, except 12:45-1:15pm for lunch break
9 & 30 June
10 & 24 July
11 & 28 August
We’ll announce more dates on our website soon.
Sport and activity fund available
Our Council, Sport Waikato, and Sport NZ have joined forces to provide funding and support for the recovery and rebuilding of physical activity opportunities in our region, in response to the severe weather events.
Organisations and groups in our district can now apply to the Thames-Coromandel Disaster Relief Fund for Play, Active Recreation and Sport.
The $60,000 of the fund has been provided by both Sport New Zealand and our Council’s Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund.