June 2021 - Update

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.