Further Steps Taken to Reopen Historic Tunnel

Negotiations might reopen with landowners in Tongaporutu about vehicle access to the historic Te Horo Stock Tunnel.

The approach is being considered to enable New Plymouth District Council to restart work to shore up the walls and ceiling of the tunnel so that it can once again be used safely by the public – 14 years after it was closed due to safety concerns.

“The tunnel was built in the 1880s and is a site of regional significance as well as being a key part of the Whitecliffs Walkway,” says General Manager Community Assets Anthony Wilson.

“We’d like to negotiate a permanent road access to the tunnel not just for the repairs, but also for future checks and maintenance.”

Te Horo Stock Tunnel is located on a public road and as such, NPDC is responsible for maintaining it to a safe standard.

The only public road access to the tunnel is from SH3 via Clifton Road, which has a section missing due to coastal cliff erosion.

The only practical route around the eroded area is through private land.

Negotiations with the landowner over site access have been unsuccessful since the tunnel repair work stalled nine years ago when access over the private land was denied.

Tonight (Tuesday) the Policy Committee recommended the Council authorise staff to reopen negotiations with the landowners, and to seek the necessary road access under the Public Works Act if the negotiations are not successful.

The recommendation will be considered by the Council at its 4 August meeting.

Mr Wilson says an application under the Public Works Act would be made only if this fresh round of negotiations came to naught.

“At the end of the day it’s about making this historic structure safe and confirming public access to the full walkway, while minimising disruption to the landowners,” he says.
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Following the Cave Creek disaster, when 14 people died when a viewing platform in the South Island collapsed, the Department of Conservation closed the 95m stock tunnel in 1995 due to safety concerns. The closure meant that people on the Whitecliffs Walkway could not return to Pukearuhe through the tunnel and along the beach.

Work to restore the tunnel began in May 2000 with a $53,000 grant from the Lottery Grants Board, $10,000 from the TSB Community Trust and $20,000 from New Plymouth District Council. The project was one day from completion when the landowner denied the contractors entry.

Since then, the restoration work has deteriorated and will need to be redone before the tunnel can be used by the public.

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