Massive cleanup starts

CLEANUP operations are now underway on road reserves throughout Manawatu District as logging contractors use specialised equipment to clear trees and debris flattened by destructive winds in the region last week.

Roading Engineer, Jim Mestyanek, said the district had been hit “pretty hard”, particularly on the Wednesday, with many contractors indicating they had never known it so bad.

“It was not so much the rain, but the wind, that caused the damage,” he said. “It looks like a giant has had a temper tantrum in parts of the district, especially on the eastern side.”

Large pine trees and table-top gums were uprooted as the south-easterly wind tore through the district north of Ashhurst and up the Pohangina Valley, before swinging over to Rangiwahia and Kimbolton.

Mr Mestyanek said up to 12 roads had been closed for a period of time, with contracting teams at full stretch in clearing trees and slash (branches, leaves) from the carriageway so through traffic could use at least one lane.

“We are now starting to move the debris off the road reserve entirely and, in some cases, specialised equipment will be needed.”

Mr Mestyanek requested that people looking for free firewood not start removing material because of dangers posed by the chaotic stacks of downed trees.

“It’s more dangerous cutting up this wind-throw timber than standing under a tree while the wind is blowing. These trees come down on other trees and become flexed and in a pre-loaded state, and if they are cut free the built-in tension is released and whiplash can occur.”

He said only experienced and qualified logging contractors were being permitted to clear the wind-throw timber off the roads.

Mr Mestyanek expects the cleanup operation to last several weeks.