Rehabilitation work on Severn St wall to begin

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher at the wall earlier this year. Photo: ODT files
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher at the wall earlier this year. Photo: ODT files
More than three years after the Severn St wall in Oamaru failed, the first stage of work that will eventually led to its rebuild is set to begin.

The 80-year-old, three-tiered landmark entrance to the Waitaki town failed in May 2016, months after the Waitaki District Council spent $45,000 improving its stability, removing leaning sections, re-establishing drainage, and building a new stone wall.

In June the council unanimously approved rehabilitation of the wall for $550,000, including a NZ Transport Agency subsidy.

The first stage of work is scheduled to start next week and will involve contractors clearing overhanging vegetation on the wall's upper terraces, in preparation for monitoring and planning of heavy maintenance.

The work is expected to take three days.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said it would allow contractors easier access to the wall when rehabilitation work began.

"They are going to do their best to make it as minimal as possible [by] trimming back the plants that are overhanging the wall rather than cutting them out, just so contractors can access the wall properly. The more plants that can be left there, the better.''

The soil will be replanted once a plan was signed off by council staff.

Mr Kircher said that would give staff the chance to explore different options.

"It does give the opportunity to look at varieties and look at other types that may be more suitable and create a very appropriate entrance to the town.''

A survey conducted by the council in May showed more than half of the 156 respondents wanted a full replacement of two tiers of walls with Oamaru stone facing, which was estimated to have cost $1.3million.

Mr Kircher said the same result could be achieved with the cheaper option "as far as the look goes''.

The reconstruction, recommended by Oamaru stone masonry firm Dooleys Masonry, followed a Stantec report that said only 33% of 350m of the two failed walls required heavy maintenance.

daniel.birchfield@odt.co.nz

 

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