[Grant Newton]

From the Tararua Aorangi Rimutaka Huts Committee meeting 9th March 2009, DoC gave updates on the work being carried out in these forest parks. These meetings take place every 6 months.

Looks like there has been plenty happenning……

Cheers
Grant
=========================================

Wairarapa (Garry Foster):
Paddy Janes (Ranger) is retiring in May.
Huts and campground
• Holdsworth usage, especially camping, is much higher – could be due to recession.
• New basic campsite at Corner Creek/Ocean Beach: http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/conservation-campsites-by-region/wellington/wairarapa/corner-creek/
• Upgrade work on Holdsworth Lodge: woodburner has been shifted, painted inside, outside and floor, cladding removed from old chimney to expose river stone construction, new stove & water heater
• New toilet hole at Mitre Flats hut
• Bucks Rd campground: new toilets, barriers to stop rubbish dumps
• Pinnacles campground upgrade underway
• Kiriwhakapapa shelter and toilet painted
• Blue Range hut: new water tank, painted porch
• Roaring Stag (Tony Macklin and team of 2): restained, removed 1 bag of rubbish, removed fly screens, cut/pruned trees, emptied gutters, cleaned hut, tightened bolts
• Cone Hut: painted roof and chimney repainted
• Powell Hut: removed dead rats from water tank, disinfect and refill
Tracks, signs, structures
• Track clearing and marking: Steve Algar has completed Atiwhakatu, Neil – Winchcombe, Cone Saddle, Maungahuka – Totara Flats, Cone Ridge, Atiwhakatu – Jumbo, Kaiparoro, Pinnacles track in Aorangi’s. Area has completed ~100km of tracks this financial year
• Inspection programme ongoing
• Gentle Annie upgrade complete (Donelly turn-off to Rocky lookout), viewing platform for Rocky lookout still to be installed. Some minor scouring has happened on the new track. Holdsworth race was right after track work had been finished, good feedback from runners.
• Walls Whare roadend, 1km of track is being upgraded just after the bridge, 3 boardwalks across muddy sections, rocks and gravel towards Totara Flats
• Castlepoint track to be upgraded
• New sign on the junction of Mt Hector – Neil Winchcombe and Cone Saddle after SAR feedback
• Ongoing maintenance on tracks: removed windfalls
• Dorset Ridge upgrade complete
• Mid Waiohine bridge has been upgraded, new anchor and main cables
Important note:
Maps in several Tararua and Aorangi Forest Parks huts have been stolen – please contact Garry Foster if you know of anything or have noticed/seen any suspicious activity.

Kapiti (Wayne Boness):
Huts and campgrounds
• South Ohau hut opening
• New toilet tank for Maungahuka, hut spring cleaned
• New toilets Otaki Forks, Poads Rd
• New water tank at Kapakapanui
• Penn Creek roof replaced, spring clean, helipad and hut surrounds cut and sprayed
• Waiopehu, Elder (closed in porch), Mangahao Flats to be restained
• Anderson: roof to be replaced, new toilet, boardwalk between hut and toilet
• Otaki Forks campground has been very busy
Tracks, signs, structures
• Cut: Te Matawai, Waiopehu, Poads Rd
• Underway: Aston, Elder, Renata, Kapakapanui
• New signs: Otaki Forks junction signs, Hut Mound, Aston, Kapakapanui, Maymorn, Mangahao
• Ongoing maintenance at Field
• New bridges Hemi Matenga
• Bridge design work Mangaone Walkway (one will replace the steel beam)
• Bridge design work for Otaki River (track to Waitewaewae)
• Ohau track cut, track across slip has been widened
• Waiotauru track slip – ongoing issue, might have to close this section and mark river crossings
• Table Top track upgrade completed
• Field track upgrade tendered – work to begin in March
• Mangahao No 2 bridge upgrade ongoing – waiting on Army Engineers
• Ongoing track maintenance caused by last winters storms
• Inspection programme ongoing
Important note:
• There is concern from private land owners regarding access, especially from people with dogs not on lead. There is danger that access could be stopped at Ngatiawa, Poads Rd, Mangahao/Makahika. There will be a press release asking people to follow the rules when crossing private land, but please pass message on to Club members to keep an eye out for people not following the rules.
• There have been car break-ins at Otaki Forks over the last 3 weeks, mainly around the picnic area. Please mention in Club newsletters for people not to leave any valuables or cash in their cars.

[Hell Mission T.C]

do you have any news from Ruahines/Kawekas?

thanks

[Mike]

You could flick an email to DOC, as I expect they’d keep the minutes of these kinds of Huts Committee meetings as they’re held around the country.

If all else fails, you could also request them under the Official Information Act but I’ve always found DOC staff to be very responsive and helpful without trying to go down that avenue.

[Author]

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