[Wayne]

Will be interesting to find out some more details about this once they are released…

Hon Chris Carter
30 September 2003

DoC proposes 250km of new walking tracks
The Department of Conservation proposes to build 250km of new walking tracks across New Zealand over the next ten years, Conservation Minister Chris Carter announced today.

It also proposes to upgrade or replace another 499 tracks spanning over 1900km, and upgrade, build or replace over 90 huts as part of a major revamp of the recreational infrastructure provided on conservation land.

“DoC’s vision for the future of New Zealand’s recreational facilities in the outdoors is laid out for the first time in a series of 13 regional plans and a national overview to be circulated for consultation,” Mr Carter said.

“This is a major event in the history of DoC. The department maintains a huge, economically significant network of huts, tracks, campsites and visitor facilities all over the country. This network has evolved in an ad hoc way over generations.

“Now, thanks to an investment of $349m in DoC’s visitor facilities announced in the 2002/2003 budget, we have a unique opportunity to revamp and reorganise this network into something that better meets the recreational needs of all New Zealanders and the economies of our regions,” Mr Carter said.

“Over the past year, DoC has been examining what mix of tracks and facilities will achieve this on the long term. Our resulting proposals seek to retain the bulk of New Zealand’s back country huts and tracks as a priority, and maintain the full range of recreational opportunities from short walks to untrammelled wilderness areas.

“But we also want to ensure entirely new opportunities are created for New Zealanders and tourists on conservation land. Doing so will help ease pressure at key destinations suffering from crowding and maximise the potential of New Zealand’s outdoors,” Mr Carter said.

He said DoC proposed to build about 80 km of new day walks throughout the country in line with the shorter time-frame of many people’s recreational opportunities.

“We also propose to upgrade facilities on a wider range of significant 2 to 5 day tramps, and we want to create up to 170km of new tramping tracks, particularly in the South Island High Country, the Coromandel, Great Barrier Island and Northland.

“In revamping recreational facilities we will be seeking to meet high standards to ensure visitors and facilities do not damage New Zealand’s environment,” Mr Carter said.

He said some huts and tracks which received little use or were duplicated by other nearby facilities, would have to close under DoC’s proposals.

“Some of these kinds of tracks are used so rarely they no longer appear on maps. It simply makes more sense to spend money on infrastructure that is used regularly,” he said.

“DoC will be consulting extensively on its proposals. I encourage people everywhere to look closely at what is proposed for their favourite haunts on conservation land and pass on their views to DoC before the end of January 2004.”

DoC maintains more than 300 campsites, 12,500km of track, 1000 backcountry huts, 2,130km of road, 1570 toilets, 570 carparks, 14,000 bridges, boardwalks and other structures, 390 amenity areas and 79 visitor and information centres.

The national overview of DoC’s plan is called Towards a Better Network of Visitor Facilties and is available at http://www.doc.govt.nz. The 13 regional plans are also available from the same site tomorrow.

[Wayne]

Hi all

This press release from DOC yesterday outlines what DoC is proposing for the Wellington conservancy area. If you have any views, please feel free to post them on the website. We have ongoing dialogue with DoC over huts and other recreational issues in the WN area and they would be keen to receive any feedback from us

thanks
Wayne

Feedback sought on Wellington visitor facility improvement plans
1 oct 2003

Around 14km of new tracks, the upgrade of 16 popular tracks and six new footbridges are proposed to enhance recreation on conservation land in the Wellington conservancy.

The Department of Conservation is seeking feedback from the public to ensure it is heading down the right track in a review of recreational opportunities and facilities.

An investment of $349 million over 10 years in DOC’s visitor facilities nationwide, announced in the 2002/2003 budget, has provided an opportunity to reorganise this network to better meet the recreational needs of all New Zealanders and the regional economies.

The 13 conservancies have reviewed their recreation opportunities and facilities and come up with what they believe is an essential network that can be maintained to standard in the long term. The Wellington Conservancy is now inviting input into its proposal from anyone interested in outdoor recreation. Public meetings are planned throughout the conservancy during October and November.

Recreation planner Liz Paton said the review, which took account of planning documents such as the Wellington Conservation Management Strategy, identified a need for some new or upgraded facilities, to cater for a wide range of visitors, and the removal of some little used, or duplicated huts and tracks.

The proposals include developing 14km of new tracks, including day walks on Kapiti Island, and at the Paraparaumu Scenic Reserve, and an easy new 8km tramping track via the historic Sheridan Creek log hauler site and Rae Ridge from the Otaki road end. Sixteen popular tracks would be upgraded including the Waiopehu and Waitewaewae tracks in the western Tararua Forest Park and Smith Creek/Dobson Loop Track and Lower Waiohine Tracks in the eastern side of the park. Closer to the urban areas Colonial Knob walkway at Porirua and Waikanae?s Mangaone walkway would also receive attention. Six new bridges are proposed to provide all weather access along popular valley tramps – two in the Waiotauru Valley and Sheridan Creek near Otaki Forks in the western Tararua ranges, and three in the eastern ranges – Clem, Makaka and Totara Creeks.

Maintenance would cease on around 37km of the 770km of tracks in the conservancy, including the Penn Creek track from Otaki Forks, due to active slips and Mukamuka Stream route on the eastern side of the Rimutaka.

Forty-nine of the 58 huts in the conservancy would continue to be maintained, by both DOC and/or clubs. Forty would make up the essential network and nine would continue to be ?maintained by community?, as long as clubs remain involved in their upkeep. Four would be ?minimally maintained? – retained with minor maintenance and removed if they became dangerous, unsanitary or no longer waterproof. A new four person hut is proposed for the Snowy Catchment in the Tararua Forest Park, to enhance the recreational hunting opportunity. Five huts and bivs are earmarked for removal – Oriwa Biv and Mt Dagg, Dorset Ridge, and North Ohau Huts in the Tararua Forest Park, and Battery Stream Biv in the Rimutaka Forest Park. ?They are either rarely used or are duplicating the functions of other better-sited huts and bivs,? Ms Paton said.

?We are keen to hear what people think about these proposals and would encourage them to make submissions.? For more information on proposals, to find out about public meetings or to make a submission on the proposals contact your nearest DOC office or visit our website at http://www.doc.govt.nz. Submissions close on January 31, 2004. ENDS

For further information contact Sue Galbraith, phone 04 472 5821

[Lee-Ann]

Also here is the link to the actual document on the Wellington Conservancy area
You will adobe acrobat to read:

http://www.doc.govt.nz/Explore/DOC-Recreation-Opportunities-Review/images/Wgtn.pdf

if this doesnt work as a link or you dont know how to type into your address bar you can go to
explore..then select “consulting on”…then select “Doc recreation opps”…then select “favorite places”..select “wellington” and then half way down is the Conservancy discussion documetn along with a whole pile of other communication and information.

[Author]

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