No reopening date yet for popular coastal walkway

The track to Tunnel Beach, Dunedin, remains closed after slips last year. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN
The track to Tunnel Beach, Dunedin, remains closed after slips last year. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN
Six months after a series of large landslips closed a popular Dunedin coastal walkway, a geotechnical report has yet to be completed.

The track to Tunnel Beach has been closed since early October last year after a drenching in the area caused at least 10 large slips.

It had been thought the track and carpark might reopen in mid-2025, but the Department of Conservation said yesterday there was no reopening date at this stage.

Doc Coastal Otago acting operations manager Samantha Marsh said the agency had not yet received a geotechnical report — this was expected soon.

A geotechnical contractor had been selected.

"Once we have the report and understand the slope stability around the slips, we will be able to look at remediation options," Ms Marsh said.

The track has previously been described as a priority, as it received more than 150,000 visitors a year and had the most damage from the October storm.

Ms Marsh said Te Rūnanga o Ōtakou, the Dunedin City Council and neighbours had been kept updated.

Doc asked people to stay away from the closed area.

grant.miller@odt.co.nz

 

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