Anzac Cliffs work resumes

The next phase of the project will involve reducing the slope of the adjoining section of unstable cliff. While that part of the work is the responsibility of PMB Landco, who own land at the top of the cliffs, it will be undertaken by the same contractor and overseen by the joint project management team.

“Work on the cliffs is expected to get underway early in 2016 subject to soil and weather conditions and is scheduled to be finished by the end of summer. This will be followed by a three year planting project to establish vegetation over the entire re-worked area.”

Mr Cook says the overall project is one of close collaboration between Horizons, Palmerston North City Council and PMB Landco.

“All parties have an interest in seeing this project completed and have been working together through the design and planning stages for some years now,” says Mr Cook.

“The key drivers for the project are the need to protect the integrity of the City’s stopbanks opposite the cliffs; mitigate the risk to public safety as a consequence of cliff collapse; and prevent the river encroaching on existing community infrastructure and residentially zoned land in the Vaucluse Heights area.

“Other benefits include the opportunity for a walkway between Fitzherbert Bridge and Vaucluse Heights, and an end to an estimated 20,000 cubic metres of sediment that currently makes it way into the river from cliff erosion each year.”

Once the river work is completed the river side site that’s been temporarily fenced off to the public will be returned to its original state and there will be no further disruption to the walkway.