[Wayne]

more news from DoC

Important notice to visitors

Rimutaka Forest Park
Catchpool Valley Road Closed

The Catchpool Valley Road is closed approximately 200m past the
Visitor Centre due to recent flood damage.

Walking tracks from the Catchpool road end are yet to be surveyed for damage and the condition of the track and associated
structures is currently unknown. Anybody walking the tracks should exercise extreme caution.

The road will remain closed until further notice.
_________________________________________

For further information contact the
Wellington Conservancy Information Centre
phone: (04) 472 7356 Fax: (04) 471 2075 or the Poneke Area Office phone: (04) 472 5821 Fax: (04) 499 0077

[Dave Catchpole]

Hi Wayne.The road into the Catchpoole car park is now open right into the carpark.You have to use the loop track to get into the valley as the usual track past the pines is unusable.DOC have done a very good job on the Orongo track and it is ok .A couple of diversions on some of the creeks and also at the halfway bridge.Paua hut is ok no damage. Dave C

[chief guide]

It is worth a day trip over to the Orongorongo river to see the results of the flooding. Quite an amazing sight the amount of shingle & logs that have come down the side streams.

Ruth

[Grant Newton]

Media release from DoC

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Catchpool road re-opens
14 apr 2005

The road to the flood-ravaged Catchpool Valley has reopened and a track, with some detours, has been marked out for access to the Orongorongo Valley.

But with a massive clean-up operation underway, to clear slips and reinstate bridges and facilities damaged or destroyed in torrential rain last month, the Department of Conservation is advising people to exercise extreme caution if venturing into this area in the Rimutaka Forest Park.

Access to and along the marked track to the Orongorongo Valley now involves a number of creek crossings and steep ascents and descents more suited to people familiar with rough terrain, DOC Poneke area manager Peter Simpson said. Remaining tracks in the Catchpool and Orongorongo Valleys have yet to be assessed for damage.

The course of the Orongorongo River has changed.

?Its new course will be unfamiliar to users and a number of deep pools and swift flowing channels may have developed,? Mr Simpson said.

The main Orongorongo Valley has been dammed by a spill out of gravel from Boulder Stream.

While the build-up of water behind it does not pose a major threat, it could be released if further flooding occurs in the near future.

?People should be aware that there could be a minor surge of water down the valley if we get further significant rain. At present the river is flowing normally around the dam and will slowly breach it over time.? Mr Simpson said.

It could take up to two years to fully reinstate structures washed out during the worst flooding in at least 30 years. The clean-up operation is estimated to cost around $500,000.

DOC staff and volunteers have been busy over the past fortnight cleaning up the picnic areas, and restoring water supplies to four booked huts in the Orongorongo Valley and to toilets in the valley.

The camp ground, covered by debris, remains closed. Work is underway to repair damaged bridges and design replacement bridges, and clear slips from the main tracks. ENDS

For more information please contact Peter Simpson, Phone 04 472 5821 or 025 748 220.

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