Land slip repairs

• Stay away from slip areas due to the danger risk
• Follow signs and stay behind safety barriers. Keep at least 1m behind cones and other delineation indicators
• Do not attempt to travel through closed sections of the road. This can cause further damage and risk to your safety and the safety of others
• Sightseeing is discouraged, especially in resident-only access areas. This puts already vulnerable roads under stress and causes safety risks. Access is only for those who live in those areas
• Have a plan and be ready to leave quickly if you need to, especially in areas prone to slips
• Do not attempt to voluntarily clear fallen trees or debris, or excavate slips or roads in these areas. It is unsafe. Leave it to emergency response crews and contractors, as they have safety assessment procedures in place. While it can look safe, there can be stability issues underground
• In some places, it’s unsafe to open the road to even one lane of traffic due to the nature of the damage and the unknown stability of the remaining road surface
• If you think there is a safety risk, call 111.

• Private landowners are responsible for repairing damage to their own land, including repairing slips on their land due to storm events
• Private work may require the landowner to stabilise land to prevent further slips
• Vehicle crossing repair. This is where the driveway leaves the legal boundary of a property and continues until it meets the road. It allows vehicles to cross over berms or footpaths to access the road. Reinstatement is the responsibility of private landowners. Private landowners are directed to the Vehicle Crossings Bylaw
• If a private landowner has constructed an accessway to their property on an unformed road (with or without council approval), the council is not responsible for maintaining or repairing that accessway. It is an offence under the Local Government Act 1974 to do work on the road without the council’s approval. Read more here: Unformed or paper roads
• In the case of private land or property damaged in recent storm events, the owner should contact their insurance provider to discuss the damage
• A private landowner may be able to make a claim with the Earthquake Commission (EQC) for slips on their land. Contact EQC to find out if you qualify for cover.
• If a private landowner is unsure where their property boundary exists, they should get in touch with the council

Please report slips with myFNDC or contact the council.

• Where a slip affects both private property and public roads, this may require discussions between the private landowner and the council as to repairs
• Any private assets (such as garages, fences and other structures) located on the road require the council’s approval for that encroachment. Those assets (including their repair) are the responsibility of the private landowner
• Repairing damage to a driveway is the responsibility of the private landowner
• Repairing damage to a vehicle crossing is the responsibility of the private landowner
• In the first instance, private landowners should ask their insurance providers what is covered by their insurance. Please contact us if you need assistance in identifying your boundary.

• Slips can’t always be fixed quickly, especially when they’re in remote areas with limited access
• We need to investigate and assess sites that require technical expertise, which can take time
• This information helps us develop a plan for the best way to repair the damage.

• The EQC is a New Zealand Crown entity that provides insurance to residential properties and invests in natural disaster research and education
• If your home is insured, you may be covered by EQC for a natural landslip. For more information, visit the EQC  website or call 0800 DAMAGE (0800 326 243).