Repairs to Mount Maunganui's Oruahine track are expected to be completed in March, almost a year after rock fall closed the track across the face of the Mount.
The track first suffered damage in the flooding last anniversary weekend that closed many of Mauao's tracks.
The Oruahine track is expected to re-open in March.
The slips knocked away the base track in several places, as well as the four wheel drive track to the summit, closing the base track around the Mount for several months.
The Oruahine track received damage in the January floods, but it was a rock fall during Easter that did the real damage.
The track is cut near the western end near the rock faces used by the rock climbers.
A crib wall will need to be built, a process that requires resource consent and a Historic Places Trust archaeological authority.
Both the consent and the authority have been obtained and the council is now waiting through the appeals window.
'We are just in the appeal period for the Archaeological Authority, and if we don't get any appeals we are hoping to make a start in February,” says Mauao park ranger Mark Ray.
If all goes well Tauranga City Council is hoping to complete the work by March, says Mark.
'It's unfortunate we weren't able to do the work under the emergency works.
'Because we left the Oruahine and went down to the base track and concentrated on that, they won't let us do more works on the Oruahine and we have to go through the full consenting process.”
It was a requirement of the Historic Places Trust and the council's own district plan, says Mark.
'It shows that Mauao is really protected under the district plan; even though it is a bit of red tape, it also shows that Mauao is a significant site and is treated carefully.”
6 comments
Posted on 17-01-2012 08:33 | By whatsinaname
what a load of ....................... if its so protected why is anyone allowed on Mauau or Mount Maunganui.
Will Council prosecute Nature?
Posted on 17-01-2012 09:13 | By Gee Really
In my opinion the Historic Places Trust has become a nitpicking bureaucratic organisation that should be stripped of government assistance. Put the money into works, not paper-work.
why do council (we) have to pay for it?
Posted on 17-01-2012 09:47 | By o0motorhead0o
why? they gave "kaitiaki" of Mauao back to the "tangata whenua" who don't pay rates on their land and I bet they aren't paying a cent towards the repair of the tracks but I bet they receive the rent/lease from the Shepherd who uses the mount for grazing...if its such a "historic" site why is there sheep destroying the sides of the mount? why is it not returned to bush over the entire mount? the only history I see on the mount is the rape of the sea-bed with the insane amount of tiny pipi shells
Beauracratic bull
Posted on 18-01-2012 18:51 | By Aimee
Quote from my dad. "I have been on this track this morning and the stupid thing is that the repair needed is very much like the one allready completed a few metres along the same track. I can't see the difference. More than half the track width is still in place and I saw about half a dozen people on the track today when I was. The repair is minor compared with the repairs carried out on the base track. It is absolutely rediculous that we the rate payers are being lead down this beauracratic path at great cost. Sun Live, go and have a look and report on this please".
No way!
Posted on 23-01-2012 07:55 | By The Tomahawk Kid
What a surprise! Why is this classed as news? This kind of thing is what we have come to expect. De riguer. If the headline said "council get the job done despite red tape" it could go on the front page
Historic Sites
Posted on 27-01-2012 16:11 | By john2000
The whole thing is a joke. I was recently prevented from building a house by the Historic Places Trust because the LIM said a one meter diameter hole half a meter deep was a place of interest. It had been pinpointed from the air many years ago before kiwi fruit was planted and grown for 20 years. No one could even find this 'place of interest' but the Historic Places Trust which was blatantly pro Maori, stuck its nose in and said no earth works could begin before the local iwi blessed the spirit of the unknown hole with the associated costs. (Read cash) No wonder NZ is divided when you see this sort of nonsense pandered to by each government and local council. As for the Historic Places Trust!!
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.