YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER |FEBRUARY 2023 | No.245
THE COATESVILLE CHRONICLE Email coatesvillechronicle@gmail.com | ph 021 724 001 | online coatesvillechronicle.com
Mill Flat Road's Bailey bridge opened to traffic on Waitaingi Day.
Mill Flat Road Accessible Again!
S
ix days after construction started Mill Flat Road's Bailey bridge was built, and by the afternoon on Waitangi Day residents were again able to travel over the Rangitopuni stream. The Bailey bridge was driven up from Hawke's Bay and arrived on Tuesday, 31 January. A team of workers immediately set to work assembling the bridge and extending it out over the stream. The project was a collaboration of AT, Downer and Waka Kotahi with more than 35 people from the three organisations helping to make it happen. The new bridge has the same weight restrictions as its predecessor; 70% of Class 1, and the installation cost is estimated to be $350K, covered by emergency funding. Auckland Transport's Stakeholder Manager North/West, John Swanepol says, "The old bridge was up for replacement next year so we will now bring that forward and work on a permanent replacement." Around 200 residents were cut off after the flood on 27 January. Some homes were left without power when storm damage to a power pole meant it needed to be replaced. Long-time Mill Flat Road resident Cate Haigh was one of
0272 984 000
the locals who stepped-up to help, part of an impressive community response. "Accurate communication became essential after the bridge collapsed," says Cate. "Louise Johnston and Chris Penk were amazing and did everything they could to help. Louise knew who to talk to at all the organisations we needed like AT and Auckland Council, so she could find out exactly what was going on then the information was shared to the community via Facebook and group emails. We also have to say thank you to Rayonier (Matariki Forests) who run the Riverhead Forest. They opened their forestry road for us on Saturday and let residents use it, giving us a way in and out." For those without 4WD vehicles part of the road proved challenging but Cate says the community pulled together. "Some people did grocery shopping for others or gave people a lift into the shops. It brought our community closer together," she says. When Rural Delivery post's red van was unable to make the journey through the forest road, Bayleys' Coatesville office acted as a local depot. Mail, courier parcels and even My Food Bag deliveries were left at the office. "Glenn Trafford
PROUDLY SPONSORS THE COATESVILLE CHRONICLE
then delivered the mail for us, so a huge thank you to Glenn and Shona Jurlina, too," says Cate. Keeping community services running included managing the rubbish collection and once again communityspirited volunteers had it covered. "Brent Cooper became our garbologist. He organised Econowaste to get a couple of jumbo bins so there were drop-off spots for people to leave their rubbish and a couple of guys took the rubbish bags up to the jumbo bins." Security was also provided by the community. Riverhead's Community Patrol led by Russell Brown kept a watchful eye on drivers using the forestry road to keep road users safe. And finally, Mill Flat Road has been reported as being part of Riverhead, but as Cate points out, it is zoned for Coatesville School and Albany Senior High School so it's also part of Coatesville. The forestry road got a bit gnarley in places but no problem if you had a 4WD vehicle.
FEBRUARY CONTENTS Flood victims' thanks 2 Louise Johnston shares her experience 4 Garden Club ready for a great year 5 Flood pictures 6 Highway repair on 7 the horizon Census Day reminder 8 Relationship property pitfalls 9 Classifieds 10 Ailsa's listings 11 Words of wisdom 12