New large cracks and slips have appeared on the Upper Clutha River Track at Albert Town, forcing authorities to erect more barriers to prevent people from walking or biking on the slumping riverside section.

The track is not going to be fixed during central government’s COVID-19 pandemic response, but people can still get to the Albert Town Bridge easily by using an alternative track in front of houses along the top of the river bank.

The slumping section has been officially closed since it was first damaged in the December floods. However, the sole barrier at the Albert Town Bridge end of the section was easy to get around and people were continuing to use it.

Track conditions have noticeably deteriorated in the past week.

Additional barriers have gone up, including a loosely-built stone wall - although that has already partially collapsed.

Plastic tape and a garden hose have also been used at the top of a sharp rise at one end to deter access.

Queenstown Lakes District Council communications officer Jack Barlow acknowledged delays in getting tracks reopened were frustrating to the community and the council, because tracks were well used and essential for commuters and recreational users.

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“A preferred contractor has been engaged to provide an estimate for this work. There has been a delay due to the restriction on activities surrounding the COVID 19 response. The cost to reinstate the track will include measures to remove any further risk of subsidence. 

“The goal is to have completed the procurement side of things during this lockdown period. Of note, that also includes additional work that needs to be carried out due to damage sustained during the December 2019 flooding.

“Work will commence at this site along with others on our trails network as soon as possible after central government restrictions are lifted,” Jack said.

Otago Regional Council operations general manager Dr Gavin Palmer confirmed the Albert Town section of track had been put under pressure in December and again, to a lesser extent, in February.

Gavin said the regional council and a geotechnical engineering firm were doing a geotechnical investigation on that section of the river and checking for stabilisation.

“Engineering solutions will follow once we have the assessment. Before the COVID-19 crisis, these works were planned for the 2020-21 financial year. 

“The walking track in this area is a QLDC responsibility, and they will be involved in deciding how it figures into engineering solutions for the river bank,’’ Gavin said.

The ORC removed fallen poplar trees from the slumping section of the track in January.

They were regarded as an obstruction in the river and a hazard for recreational users following the December floods.

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