Photo: Civil Defence West Coast
A Franz Josef local warned the NZ Transport Agency about problems with the Waiho Bridge two days before it was swept away. Motelier and campground owner Logan Skinner sent an email to the agency on Sunday warning that the bridge had been weakened by recent repair work upstream and that it would be vulnerable if there was a good downpour. The Transport Agency told him all would be "fine" with the bridge, but the torrential rain that hit the region on Monday night proved them wrong. Bruce Smith is mayor of the Westland District Council.
