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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. Trail News and Maintenance -The large number of Trail users over the New Year period has continued. Planning is underway for the Pauanui Half Marathon in March. We will once again ensure the Trail surface is at its best for this event. The 3 water tanks placed along the Trail are well used by passers-by who are watering the new plantings. The Resene Paints buckets at each tank position are proving ideal for the job. We are investigating the supply of more native trees for our planting program.
Predator Control - The following pests were eradicated over the reporting period: 2 x possum 9 x rats 23 x Good Nature Kills 2 x Stoats A graph showing seasonal pest kill rates is available on our website. Trail Usage Counter 6216 passes for the period 21st January – 3rd March. Funding - We received $1810.00 from the general public over this period bringing the total from this source for the year to date to $31,892.00. With the approach of winter orders for firewood have ramped up. Investigations into additional funding streams 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. In the meantime we are planning the construction of the last section of the Stage 3 route from the bridge at Prescott’s Garage in Hikuai back towards Pauanui. This entails building the Trail in the road reserve on the Northern side of the Hikuai Settlement Road as far as the boundary between 201 and 251 Hikuai Settlement Road. We thank the TCDC’s Transport & Roading Manager for his support and advice during the planning process. Survey work to mark out the road reserve boundary has been completed. Fencing work along the realigned boundary will get underway shortly. Consultation with the 2 adjacent land owners continues. HDT has arranged training for Trail volunteers to help out with traffic control and back-up machinery use as required during the construction process. A Press Release has been completed and will be released in due course. Trail Stage 4 - The trail Committee is well into the planning work on the route from Hikuai to Tairua. Consultations have begun with Local Bodies and neighbouring property owners. The technical aspects of the challenging section between the Tairua Primary School and Red Bridge Road are being investigated. Tenders are being sought for the required Geotech work and appropriate Boardwalk systems. Contact has been made with NZTA regarding their Safer Cycling program. Health & Safety - Incidents raised by Trail users have been investigated. Trail News and Maintenance:
Pauanui saw its usual swell of visitor numbers over the Christmas / New Year period this year with the Trail showing its usual popularity with walkers, cyclists and family groups. The December Pauanui Half Marathon event was a great success with more than 700 participants with some great comments about the Trail portion of the course. Once again we are having a dry summer so 3 water tanks have been placed along the Trail to enable users to water trees as they pass. We are on the lookout for trailers for 2 more water tanks needed as our planting programme extends along the Trail. Our thanks go out to Resene Paints who donated much needed buckets to place at each tank position. Predator Control: The following pests were eradicated over the reporting period: 4 x possum 7 x rats 7 x Good Nature Kills 4 x Stoats 3 x Hedgehogs A graph showing seasonal pest kill rates is available on our website. Trail Usage Counter 13,521 for the period 30th November – 29th January. Funding: We received a $50,000 grant from TCDC earmarked for the Northern Route. Supporting organisations and the general public donated nearly $13,000 over this period. We continue to investigate additional funding streams as we know getting enough funding in place for the Northern Trail Route construction will be challenging. 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. We continue to work with our stakeholders to find a way forward for this section. In the meantime we have decided to get to work on the remainder of the Stage 3 route to Hikuai in early March. Details of this work will be announced in a Press Release once we have completed all preliminary work. Trail Stage 4: The trail Committee is well into the planning work on the route from Hikuai to Tairua. Consultations with Local Bodies and neighbouring property owners will take place once we have a workable plan in place. Health & Safety: A variety of new signs have been placed along the Trail to help users stay safe while on the Trail. The potentially hazardous dead and dying trees on Stage 2 of the Trail have now been removed. Thanks to TCDC and Matt Groube for arranging and carrying out this work in a timely manner. Trail News and Maintenance With the ever increasing numbers of people using holiday homes and visiting the Coromandel due to Covid 19, the Trail’s increasing popularity is indicated by the monthly usage numbers. On the 5th December the Pauanui Half Marathon event which utilises the Trail as part of the course will take place. Over 750 participants are expected. The Trail’s surface is being prepared in anticipation of a great event. 300 donated trees from Container Nurseries in Whenuapai have been planted and protected with the donated pipe from Asmus Group. Thanks to the 2 local teenagers who did the bulk of the planting. Weed control and mulching of existing planting is ongoing. Trail users are encouraged to mulch and water trees as they pass. Have a look at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pauanuitairuatrail/ for details. Congratulations to Jeanette Waters and Mike Spitzer who received awards at the Pauanui Sports and Recreation Club’s Volunteers Service Awards night for their work on the Trail. Look for our workers in their new Hi-Vis work shirts on the Trail and our new Trail tee shirts being worn around the community. Predator Control: The following pests were eradicated over the reporting period: 2 x possum 1 x rats 1 x Good Nature Kills A graph showing seasonal pest kill rates has been added to our website. Trail Usage Counter 2985 passes for the period 30th October – 29th November. Funding: The Tairua Trail & Tides Walk had 350 entrants with a donation to come after accounts are finalised. The Sunlover Retreat / Mania Kitchen sponsored event on the 25th November resulted in a $4500 donation to the Trail. Refer to our Website http://www.pauanuitairuatrail.org.nz/contact.html and Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pauanuitairuatrail/ for details. Trail Stage 3 Progress: Progress along the Marginal Strip adjacent to the Tairua River is currently halted at the boundary between TCDC and DoC administered land. We continue to work with our stakeholders to find a way forward. Trail Stage 4: We believe our proposal for a walk / cycle way from the Tairua School to the Tairua Cemetery will provide Tairua with a much needed safe access way to the Cemetery area as well as an impressive start / finish point for the Trail to Hikuai. HDT will investigate methodologies to move ahead with this section of the Trail with our stakeholders. Funds raised in Tairua will go toward our efforts here. Health & Safety: Signage and Trail improvements are ongoing to ensure a superior experience by all Trail users. Other: TCDC have arranged local contractor Matt Groube to remove dead pines and prune dangerous overhanging branches to ensure Trail users have a safe path through the more forested areas of the Trail. Trail News and Maintenance:- The good weather over Labour Weekend showed just how popular the Trail is with the increased numbers recorded on the Trail over the month. Several large groups were out enjoying the experience. A group of Pauanui Mobility Scooter and Golf Cart users requested an outing along the Trail. This took place on Monday 2nd November. Our team is continuing to upgrade the Trail surface as material becomes available. Predator Control:- The following pests were eradicated over the reporting period: 6 x possum 3 x rats 1 Stoat 19 x Good Nature Kills A graph showing seasonal pest kill rates has been added to our website. Trail Usage Counter 3141 passes for the period 21st September – 29th October. Funding:- The Tairua Trail & Tides Walk / Run event on 7th Nov and this year’s Pauanui Half Marathon on the 5th December, which will include a section of the Trail in the course, are both generously supporting the Trail. Sunlover Retreat and Mania Kitchen are bringing Peta Mathias to Tairua on 25th November for a Dessert and Coffee evening as a Fundraiser for the Trail. Asmuss Group in Hamilton has generously provided a selection of pipes for use on the Trail. Firewood sales and public donations are ongoing. Trail Stage 3 Progress:- Progress along the Marginal Strip adjacent to the Tairua River is currently halted at the boundary between TCDC and DoC administered land. We continue to work with our stakeholders to find a way forward. Trail Stage 4:- We believe our proposal for a walk / cycle way from the Tairua School to the Tairua Cemetery will provide Tairua with a much needed safe access way to the Cemetery area as well as an impressive start / finish point for the Trail to Hikuai. HDT will investigate methodologies to move ahead with this section of the Trail with our stakeholders. Health & Safety:- Signage and Trail improvements are ongoing to ensure a superior experience by all Trail users. Following advice from Rayonier Matariki Forests we are working with TCDC to ensure Trail users have a safe path through the more forested areas of the Trail. |
