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Published on 12 July 2026
Waterfront Road is reduced to one lane under give-way traffic management, and Ōamaru’s popular steam train service remains temporarily out of action while geotechnical engineers assess the stability of the railway corridor following last week’s flood event.
Geotechnical specialists completed an initial assessment of the clay embankment on Waterfront Road on Friday and identified concerns about its immediate stability, including the potential impact on both the road and the nearby railway. A full assessment is scheduled for Monday. As a precaution, NZTA, the rail safety regulator, has closed the railway while further investigations are carried out.
Waitaki District Council Recovery Manager Elliot Ball said Council called in geotechnical engineers after staff identified significant flood-related damage beneath the tracks, including a large gouge in the embankment and sediment build-up close to the rail line. Material is still falling and continues to pose a risk.
Council is working closely with NZTA, geotechnical specialists and affected stakeholders, including the Blue Penguin Colony, Ōamaru Steam & Rail and Del Mar, and will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
Waterfront Road continues to be closely monitored, and if you are travelling through the area, please take extra care, follow the traffic management in place and allow additional time for your journey.
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