This Week's Summary

In the French Pass, crews will continue to remove spoil and debris from the Ronga Road slip site, 5.5km from the SH6 turnoff. 

Works are also being undertaken to repair a roadside scour, at the Havelock Causeway, 200m from the SH6 turnoff near Havelock.

In May culvert works will be undertaken on Kenepuru Road, which will require daytime road closures. Further information will follow in regards to the location of these closures. 

Works are nearing completion at the Limestone revetment site with hydroseeding scheduled when weather permits. Crews will move to Kennett Bridge to undertake river training in the next week.

Please follow all traffic management signage and be aware of a large number of truck movements on roads throughout the recovery zone. 

Driving with caution is advised and delays are expected while works continue on the roads affected by the August 2022 weather event.

Keep reading for information on:

• Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study
• Winter Resilience Works
• Restricted Access Roads
• Resident Definition
• Awatere Valley Road
• French Pass
• Kenepuru 
• Queen Charlotte Drive
• Support

Information and Support

If you require welfare support contact recovery@marlborough.govt.nz or phone Council on 03 520 7400.

Visit Marlborough District Council's website for a fortnightly Marlborough Recovery Update, posted on a Friday afternoon. 

For local roading alerts/updates go to Marlborough District Council's Website.

Sign up to the Antenno app to receive notifications on your phone 

Check the Civil Defence Emergency Management map for road access restrictions 

Phone: 0800 213 213 or 03 520 8024, between 8am - 5pm, Monday to Friday

Email: recovery@marlboroughroads.com

Work by engineering consultancy Stantec to prepare a business case on behalf of Council and Waka Kotahi to fund a future-proof transport network in the Sounds is moving ahead.

Following the public consultation phase, The Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study project team has been reviewing the community’s feedback and a range of technical criteria to inform potential future transport options for the Sounds.

Council expects to be in a position soon, to propose an indicative preferred option for each of five areas in the Sounds:

• Rai Valley to French Pass, including Tennyson Inlet and D’Urville Island
• Pelorus including Kaiuma Bay Road
• Kenepuru Road and the outer Sounds
• Queen Charlotte Drive; and
• Port Underwood.

The project team is planning to run drop-in meetings around the Sounds and in Blenheim, in mid to late June to explain what they’re proposing, and the likely costs.

Read the full media statement from Marlborough District Council released today.

Sign up for study email updates.

Winter Resilience Works

The Marlborough Roads Recovery Team is working on maintenance fixes to build road resilience around the Sounds as we head into winter. 

For example, work is underway to install new culverts on Kenepuru Road, strengthening of some road pavements for vehicles is continuing, and there is grading and gravelling work in areas.

Restricted Access Roads

To check the status of a road before you travel, please visit the Civil Defence Emergency Map.

Some roads remain restricted to resident and emergency or essential services access only and some with other restrictions.

For a full list of what is deemed an emergency or essential service visit the Marlborough District Council's website. 

Kenepuru Road to the Heads and its side roads, including Moetapu Bay Road, are restricted to residents and emergency or essential services only. They are not suitable for non-residents.

The section of Kenepuru Road between Linkwater to the Heads and its side roads, has severe storm damage and entry into this section of the road is at resident and emergency or essential services drivers' discretion.

Residents only are permitted to walk and cycle on the restricted access section of Kenepuru Road and Moetapu Bay Road.

Extreme care should be exercised and daylight driving only is strongly recommended.

The following restrictions also apply on Kenepuru and Moetapu Bay roads;

• No campervans, vans or buses.
• Only 4WD and light vehicles under 3.5 tonnes. No HCV.
• On Kenepuru Road, between Moetapu Bay to The Heads, no vehicles more than eight metres in length.

There are the following hazards on Kenepuru Road:

• Slips
• Drop outs
• Single lane in places
• Increased hazard during rain
• Uneven surfaces and gravel sections
• Queen Charlotte Drive is open to all vehicles less than 12.6m.

Anakiwa Road is open to vehicles less than 12.6m. Beyond Tirimoana Jetty, only light vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes are allowed, unless by prior arrangement.

French Pass and Tennyson Inlet are accessible, but drivers should be aware that the road is narrower than usual in some sections.

Please be aware that on all roads, including those with public access, there may be areas of works and traffic management in place. Please expect delays and follow all signage and traffic management.

Heavy rain may lead to roads needing to be closed urgently. No matter the status of the road, drive to the conditions.

If you know any non-residents who might be considering visiting the Kenepuru area, please advise them to make use of the Council’s water taxi subsidy. Water taxi services can be booked through the Picton, Blenheim and Havelock i-SITES or directly with the provider.

Visit the Marlborough District Council Website for more information. 

Resident Definition

The definition of a resident, in terms of who is able to access roads restricted to resident and emergency services is;

A permanent resident, owner of a holiday home/bach or land, or the owner of a commercial interest. 

It does not include visitors who are hiring or renting a holiday home or bach, where rental arrangements have been made through either a property letting agency or directly with the owner. 

Awatere Valley Road

Works are completed at the Limestone revetment with the exception of hydroseeding, which will be undertaken when weather allows.

River training works are scheduled to begin at Kennett's Bridge. Please be aware of increased truck movements in this area. 

Please be aware that if you wish to travel through the Molesworth, Acheron Road is now closed for the winter season. It will not re-open until Labour Weekend.

French Pass

Crews will continue to remove spoil and debris from the Ronga Road slip site, 5.5km from the SH6 turnoff. Please expect increased truck movements in this area. The works are being managed with a 30km speed limit in place. 

Kenepuru

Laying metal and grader works have been delayed in some areas of the Kenepuru Heads due to wet weather, crews are scheduled to continue working on Elie Bay and Hopai Bay Roads this week, weather permitting.

Work to replace culverts is scheduled for May on Kenepuru Road, which will require day time road closures. Further information will follow in regards to the location of these closures.

Queen Charlotte Drive

Crews are continuing to work at the Havelock Causeway to repair a large scour on the roadside, 200m from the SH6 Havelock turnoff. Crews are continuing to remove debris around services and reinstate materials as they work towards the eastern end of the scour.

Please note, this section of the road will be down to one lane with works being carried out under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays. 

Culvert clearing was completed on Anakiwa Road last week and asphalt bunds formed in various locations on Queen Charlotte Drive. Both these works are part of the winter resilience programme. 

Site rails damaged in the August 2022 storm event along Queen Charlotte Drive have also now been repaired. 

The retaining wall 3.3km from Picton completed last month, has now been hydroseeded. 

Support

Community Meetings

The Marlborough Recovery Team have hosted a number of community events including the recent Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study meetings. For more information view Council's Fortnightly Recovery Updates and the Future Access Study 

Barge Subsidies

Council will underwrite barge subsidies into the Kenepuru and Queen Charlotte Sounds to assist residents impacted by the August 22 storm event. 

Water Taxi Subsidies

Marlborough District Council with funding support, will subsidise water taxi services for residents, workers and visitors to the areas in the Marlborough Sounds that were previously accessible by road. 

For more information on any of these services, visit Marlborough District Council's Website.