Road to somewhere decision challenged

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 424, 18 February 1992, Page 1

Road to somewhere decision challenged

DoC is to be asked to call for public submissions on the closure of Mangapurua Road, which is now a tramping track to the Bridge to Nowhere.

The Waimarino Community Board has decided to ask the Department of Conservation to give people a chance to have a say in the road closure, after

differences of opinion over the road closure procedures, carried out by the Department of Survey and Land Information (DoSLI). Turn page 2

Road decision challenged

From page 1 Board member Winston Oliver said people who once used the road, including hunters, motor cyclists and horse riders, were annoyed that the road had been closed at the Mangapurua Trig. He said many had been waiting to see the proposed road closure advertised so they could object. The meeting heard that DoSLI closed the road through a legal process that did not require public notification. This procedure could apply to unformed roads. But Mr Oliver disagreed, saying the road was formed. "You don't build a concrete structure like the Bridge to Nowhere for a cart track." The crux of the problem was access to the

Mangapurua Valley, and Mr Oliver said many people would be happy if the road was closed there rather than at the trig. He said then riders and hunters could leave their bikes or horses in a paddock there, rather than having to climb back up the four-miles to the trig. Department of Conservation officer Peter Bourke said there were some in the department who wanted this and there was an idea to open the road to as far as the Valley, where a holding paddock could be established. But he said there was always people who would sce it as a challenge to try to ride to the Bridge to Nowhere "no matter how dangerous it is". He said horses and motor

bikes made it very difficult for the department to maintain the tracks in the lower part of the Valley. Another problem had been people using the legal road to avoid prosecution for grazing cattle in the area illegally. Although there was doubt about the legality of the closure, the board heard it would be very expensive to challenge the decision, so called for DoC to hear public submissions "and then the board will pursue the matter of legality no further". FOOTNOTE: another piece of history from Mr Webb surfaced during this meeting - Mr Webb's father used to drive the mail truck on the now-closed Mangapurura Valley Road.