An unprotected sewer pipe crossing the Huatoki River in New Plymouth has had not one - but two close calls with falling trees.
A mature eucalyptus tree fell just metres from an exposed sewer pipe crossing the Huatoki River in New Plymouth. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
A mature eucalyptus and another tree of an unknown variety both toppled just metres from the sewer pipe, which carries the waste of 1000 nearby residents, in recent weeks.
The council says the pipe, which was undamaged, is of a variety deemed strong enough not to require a protective cage.
The tree falls were reported by the public. No one was injured.
The New Plymouth district has 79 sewer pipes and 68 water pipe bridges crossing waterways, 25 of which are on the Te Henui or Huatoki river walkways.
Only 10 percent of the "pipe bridges" have protective cages.
In 2018, Cylone Gita caused a tree to fall crushing a pipe at the city's water treatment plant, knocking out a quarter of the city's water supply.