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Trail News and Maintenance: With the onset of the wettest part of winter we are now focused on maintenance to keep the Trail safe. The Daffodils are blooming so a visit to Reflection Point is well worth while. We will continue to promote the public’s right to access crown land and support the Governments National Cycle Trail program. We think our Trail supporters deserve that at least. We are now part of the Coromandel Peninsular Cycle Trail Collective, a sport and recreation Hub hosted by Sport NZ. Perhaps the combined effort of the many Trail groups in the region will start to have a positive impact on the barriers we all face. Tourism is a major part of the Coromandel’s economy. We look forward to working with the other members of the Hub to investigate connecting Trails that would enable visitors and locals alike to fully enjoy what we all know is a great part of the country.
Website: The website and Facebook page update is ongoing. Plans and details of the Stage 4 route are pending so keep an eye out for those. Predator Control: The following pests were eradicated over the reporting period: 14 x Rats 2 Possums 1 x Stoat 9 x Good Nature Kills 27 bait stations emptied A graph showing seasonal pest kill rates is available on our website. Trail Usage Counter 1534 passes for the period 14th June – 18th July. The numbers have traditionally risen over the School Holiday period. This will show in next month’s report. Funding Investigations into funding options for the Northern Trail Route construction are ongoing. We will submit an application to the TCDC Community Board for a Grant this round. Trail Stage 3 Progress: Progress along the Marginal Strip adjacent to the Tairua River is still currently halted at the boundary between TCDC and DoC administered land. Work with stakeholders to find a way forward, continues. Fencing work along the realigned road boundary and the Trail construction work in the road reserve from Prescott’s Garage towards Pauanui will get underway as soon as we are able. Heritage NZ has requested an addendum to the original Stage 3 Archaeology Report for that specific area. An application for an Archaeological Authority will follow. Trail Stage 4 and beyond: Planning work and consultations with Local and Regional Councils, Iwi and adjoining land owners along the proposed route from Hikuai to Tairua have reached a point where the preliminary details can be released to them for discussion. The route will be released to the general public for comment once this stage of our consultations has been concluded. Trail News and Maintenance: - Nothing much has changed on the Trail front. New construction work is still at a standstill but maintenance to keep the Trail safe is ongoing. Mulching and planting along the Trail by our team of volunteers continues. Work with the various Government Departments & Crown Entities who promote the public’s right to access crown land and support the Governments National Cycle Trail program continues. A little more positivity and help in finding a way forward from this sector would really be appreciated. The Trail Committee is generally feeling rather jaded but the continuing encouragement we receive from our supporters and Trail users keeps us grounded and determined to continue. Our attendance at the recent TCDC Track & Trail Forum showed that the issues we currently face are not uncommon when planning and building Trails. Persistence is required and is eventually rewarded.
Website: - The website and Facebook page update is ongoing. Plans and details of the Stage 4 route are pending so keep an eye out for those. Predator Control: - The following pests were eradicated over the reporting period: 15 x bait stations emptied 3 x possums 19 x rats 1 x Good Nature Kills 1 x Stoats A graph showing seasonal pest kill rates is available on our website. Trail Usage Counter: - 1604 passes for the period 17th May – 13th June. Funding: - Pauanui Half Marathon donated $2500.00 – Thanks to the organisers and those who participated in this year’s event. We received many positive comments about the Trail section of the event. Investigations into funding for the Northern Trail Route construction are underway. Trail Stage 3 Progress: - Progress along the Marginal Strip adjacent to the Tairua River is still currently halted at the boundary between TCDC and DoC administered land. Work with stakeholders to find a way forward, continues. Fencing work along the realigned road boundary and the Trail construction work in the road reserve from Prescott’s Garage towards Pauanui will get underway as soon as HNZ conclude their current investigations. We have a meeting with them at the end of the month. Trail Stage 4 and beyond: - Planning work and consultations with Local and regional Councils, Iwi and adjoining land owners along the proposed route from Hikuai to Tairua are reaching a point where the preliminary details can be released to them for discussion. The route will be released to the general public for comment once this stage of our consultations has been concluded. Any plans to join this trail to others will be part of our work with the other participants of the Track and Trails Forum. Trail News and Maintenance: - Our plan to start work on the Trail section from Prescott’s Garage towards Pauanui has been frustrated by Heritage NZ following reports to them regarding the actions of HDT’s Trail construction team on previous stages. We continue to work with HNZ to clarify the issues raised. This year’s School Holidays resulted in additional Trail usage for the period reported as expected.
Website: - The website and Facebook page update is ongoing. Plans and details of the Stage 4 route are pending so keep an eye out for those. Predator Control: - The following pests were eradicated over the reporting period: 58 x bait stations emptied = possum kills 19 x rats 15 x Good Nature Kills 1 x Stoats A graph showing seasonal pest kill rates is available on our website. Trail Usage Counter: - 3415 passes for the period 10th April – 16th May. Funding: - We really appreciate the ongoing donations from our many supporters. This reminds us that our efforts are worthwhile. Investigations into funding for the Northern Trail Route construction are underway. Trail Stage 3 Progress: - Progress along the Marginal Strip adjacent to the Tairua River is still currently halted at the boundary between TCDC and DoC administered land. Work with our stakeholders to find a way forward is continuing The Traffic Management Plan submitted to TCDC for work on the 1.5km section of the Trail from the bridge at Prescott’s Garage in Hikuai back towards Pauanui has been approved. The bridge designs have been lodged for consent with TCDC. Fencing work along the realigned road boundary and the Trail construction work in the road reserve will get underway as soon as HNZ conclude their investigations. Trail Stage 4 and beyond: - Planning work and consultations with Iwi and adjoining land owners along the proposed route from Hikuai to Tairua are reaching a point where the preliminary details can be released to them for discussion. The route will be released to the general public for comment once this stage of our consultations has been concluded. We are keen to investigate the possibility and benefits of eventual links with other Trails in the area, in particular a link to the Hauraki Rail Trail via the Puketui valley and beyond. Discussions with WRC regarding consents for the Geotech investigation for the Tairua School – Red Bridge Road section are ongoing. Discussions with NZTA regarding their Safer Cycling program continue Health & Safety: - No incidents to report during this period. Trail News and Maintenance - This year’s Pauanui Half Marathon and Easter Weekend brought the usual increase in visitors to Pauanui. This resulted in an increase in Trail usage. We received many positive comments from the Half Marathon participants about the Trail. We have contacted MBI for a supply of surplus native trees from their Te Uru Rakau Nursery for planting this winter.
Predator Control - The following pests were eradicated over the reporting period: 3 x possum 24 x rats 10 x Good Nature Kills 2 x Stoats A graph showing seasonal pest kill rates is available on our website. Trail Usage Counter - 4658 passes for the period 4th March – 9th April. Funding - Supplies of dry firewood have now all but run out. We appreciate the continuing support from all those who participate in this revenue stream. Investigations into additional funding for the Northern Trail Route construction are ongoing. Trail Stage 3 Progress - Progress along the Marginal Strip adjacent to the Tairua River is still currently halted at the boundary between TCDC and DoC administered land. Work with our stakeholders to find a way forward is ongoing. A Traffic management Plan has been submitted to TCDC for work on the 1.5km section of the Trail from the bridge at Prescott’s Garage in Hikuai back towards Pauanui. Fencing work along the realigned road boundary will get underway shortly. Consultation with the 2 adjacent land owners continues. Traffic Control, Chainsaw Safety Courses and Skid Loader driver training have been completed by a number of our volunteers who are now ready to help out when construction gets underway. Trail Stage 4 - Planning work and consultations with Iwi and affected land owners along the proposed route from Hikuai to Tairua is ongoing. We are keen to investigate the possibility and benefits of eventual links with other Trails in the area. An acceptable tender for the Geotech investigation for the Tairua School – Red Bridge Road section has been received. Discussions with WRC regarding consents that may be required are ongoing. Discussions with NZTA regarding their Safer Cycling program are ongoing. Health & Safety - No incidents to report during this period. It has now been more than 18 months since progress has been made on Stage 3 of the trail from Duck Creek on Hikuai Settlement Rd to Prescott’s Garages in Hikuai. Work is scheduled to start again after Easter, with construction of a 1.8km section of trail starting close to Prescott’s Garages and working eastwards towards Pauanui. This section of the trail will be constructed in the parcel of land between the road and the adjacent property boundaries, known as the road reserve.
The Hikuai District Trust, a charitable trust responsible for planning and building the trail, has completed the following in preparation for the upcoming work.
Project Manager Andy Bolton says the team of volunteer trail builders are eager to get back to work on the trail. “We’re delighted to be able to say we will be back at work after Easter once the traffic management plan is approved” Andy says. The existing 6.4km of trail has proven to be hugely popular, with more than 13,000 users recorded between November 2020 and the end of January 2021. The trail also provided part of the course for the second annual Pauanui Half Marathon on 20 March 2021. The marathon supports the trail with proceeds from the event. (More information www.pauanuihalfmarathon.co.nz) “Community support is rewarding for the team of volunteers who have poured thousands of hours into the trail’s construction,” Andy says. “So often when we are out working on the trail, people tell us how wonderful they think it is,” he says. “The feedback is encouraging and we are often asked when more stages will be opened up. “This trail is a great asset to the Pauanui and Tairua communities, who will reap the value of this hard work in years to come,” Andy says. |
