5 Sep 2014

Another North Otago coast collapse

2:04 pm on 5 September 2014

Another piece of the North Otago coastline has collapsed, further threatening a main waterfront route.

The collapsed section of Beach Road near Kakanui, North Otago.

The collapsed section of Beach Road near Kakanui, North Otago. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer

The Waitaki district council said a new section of the limestone shelf under Beach Road, between the towns of Kakanui and Oamaru, has broken away this week and is back to only one metre from the road.

In May an 80 metre long slip cut into the cliff edge below Beach Road and the road was subsequently reduced to one lane.

The council was investigating buying farmland to shift the road at least 20 metres inland.

Council roading manager Michael Voss said the slip was a safety concern and a fence was being put up on the road's shoulder to alert the public.

A geotechnical engineer was assessing the cliff face's stability.

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