Ōpua-Paihia track closure extended

Damage to the Ōpua-Paihia Coastal Walkway caused by a slip in mid-July is more extensive than first thought. The track between Smith Camp Road and English Bay is expected to remain closed for several weeks.

Residents are being urged not to use the popular walkway due to the danger posed by unstable ground that has continued to shift since the slip occurred. Heavy rains have added to the health and safety risks with the site currently deemed too unsafe to work on by contractors.

Solutions to repair the slip and prevent it from happening again are being investigated.

Parts of the coastal walking track were reopened in April after several months of repair and upgrade works. This work did not include the 325-metre section where extensive slips between Walls Bay and Lemons Bay closed part of the track following Cyclone Gabrielle last year. This section remains closed due to a large fallen Pohutukawa tree and extensive slips.

Unfortunately, warning signs and fencing installed to prevent access to this part of the slip area have been regularly removed and vandalised putting other walkers at risk.