New park track supported

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 417, 17 December 1991, Page 1

New park track supported

Support for a new walking track in Tongariro National Park, from the Ohakune Ranger Station to the Hapuawhenua Viaduct was shown at a public meeting in Ohakune last week. The meeting was part of a series which are at the start of a long process to review the Tongariro National Park and surrounding area's conservation management strategy. Ohakune Field Centre manager Lisle Irwin said the meetings, being held around the conservancy, would be followed by a period of strategy plan development, then further public submission. The idea of building a new track in the Ohakune area has been around for some time, said Mr Irwin, but has recently gathered more public support. At present the Department of Conservation (DoC) has a policy of not developing new

S tracks because they can lead to erosion problems with the soft soils in the area, and because the department has trouble keeping up with the maintenance of existing tracks. "But new tracks could be allowed in local areas for a specific purpose," said Mr Irwin. He said the Hapuawhenua Track would focus on the history of the Waimarino area, specifically on railways, and could be developed under the present management plan. He said it would be about three to four kilometres long and be routed through bush and open ground, with views out over the Waimarino plains. Historical interpretation material could later be added, to cover the area's Maori, logging, railway and market gardening history. If the track were to be developed it would have to be to a high standard otherwise erosion probTurnpage3

New Park track support

From page 1 lems could result. It would have to be benched, drained and surfaced. Mr Irwin said work on surveying and costing the project is now under way, which has to be carried out before a decision is made as to whether to proceed. The project could involve seeking sponsorship and works scheme labour. The Main Trunk Rail Ohakune (MTRO) group and the Ruapehu South Business Association

have indicated support for the idea. Heliskiing Heliskiing in the Park was also discussed, with some support for the activity shown. The present policy banning the activity was explained by District Conservator, Paul Green. He said there would be a major conflict of use if helicopters were allowed to land at high altitude on Ruapehu. The area was a unique

alpine environment and the only such area in the North Island available for back country skiing and climbing in winter. The intrusion of large numbers of helicopter landings is thought to detract from the wilderness experience, said Mr Irwin. South Island parks can allow heliskiing because their areas are so vast, and can be limited to small sections, he said. Park pests Also discussed were pests such as possums,

pinus contorta and heather. The majority present agreed these were major problems and that not enough was being done, especially with possums since trapping had fallen away to almost nil following the fall in fur prices. Biological control of possums was being studied by DoC and the Ministry of Agriculture, whereby female possums would become sterilized.