WAIKARE CROSSING CELEBRATED

After nearly eight months, a safe and secure river crossing has been established on Glenbrook Road at Waikare. The bridge was washed away in Cyclone Gabrielle, leaving the remote farming community cut off.
There were occasions when they could cross the river at low tide in a 4 x 4 vehicle, but a wet winter meant those opportunities were few and far between.
The new crossing is a game changer for the resilient rural community. Robert and Janet Valler have managed Waitaha Station, about 15km from Waikare and off Glenbrook Road, for the past 12 years.
When the cyclone first struck, their road was blocked, meaning initially, they weren’t aware of the other extreme damage around them.
It wasn’t until the beginning of May they were able to cross the river. By July, they managed to get stock out, again over the river, using a small truck and taking seven hours to get 60 R2 steers across the river to the neighbour’s yards.
Robert and Janet took their isolation in their stride and have spent the past eight months, along with their shepherd Jamie Te Kahika-Toe Toe, and his partner, Sharni Biddle, chipping away, clearing slips, creating access, and celebrating that the farm is once again stock- proof with around 600 metres of repairs carried out. The couple said this was a huge amount of work to complete in a relatively short period of time.
Robert and Janet said they were well looked after in the 12 weeks they had to stay on farm, and the following months, adding that considering how much time they had to spend together, ‘luckily they are quite fond of each other.’

Robert and Janet Vellar were isolated for months when the Glenbrook Road bridge washed away in Cyclone Gabrielle.

Celebrating access with the new river crossing on Glenbrook Road, Waikare.

Glenbrook residents and those involved in completing the Glenbrook Road river crossing celebrated connectivity.

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