Kauri dieback: More Auckland regional park tracks to open by end of year

Friday, 7 August 2020

Nine walking tracks in Auckland’s regional parks will re-open by the end of this year after the coronavirus lockdown halted upgrade works.

Forested areas of regional parks in West Auckland’s Waitākere Ranges and Hunua Ranges were closed off in 2018 to protect the trees from kauri dieback disease and prevent further spread.

This meant more than 100 tracks in Waitākere and more than 10 high-risk tracks in Hunua weren’t accessible to the public.

Auckland Council closed most tracks in regional parks in 2018 because of kauri dieback disease. (File photo)

Auckland Council’s biosecurity manager of kauri dieback, Lisa Tolich, said the lockdown impacted re-openings and put a strain on the council’s five-year re-opening programme.

**READ MORE:

Kauri dieback disease on the Maungaroa Ridge Track in the Waitākere Ranges. (File photo)

* Kauri dieback: 11 Waitākere Ranges tracks to open this summer

* Closed tracks in Waitākere Ranges Regional Park to reopen over next five years

Cleaning stations have been installed at all open tracks in Auckland to help in the fight of kauri dieback.

* More Auckland tracks and parks closed due to threat of kauri dieback disease

“Work was also pushed back into a more challenging time of year when weather conditions are less favourable both in terms of impacting ground conditions and getting suitable weather for the helicopter work needed to fly materials in and out.”

A rāhui was placed over the ranges by West Auckland iwi Te Kawerau-ā-Maki in 2018 after the disease was first identified on Mangaroa Ridge in Piha.

The counci opened seven tracks in the region in the summer of 2018 and 11 more were opened last year.

Tolich said by the end of 2020, nine tracks in regional parks will re-open thanks to funding from the Natural Environment Targeted Rate.

These tracks are the Waharau Loop in the Hunua Ranges, part of Glenfern on Aotea Great Barrier Island, and Omanawanui, Puriri Ridge, Donald McLean, Karamatua Loop Walk, Winstone and Ahuahu in the Waitākere Ranges.

The popular two-kilometre Spraggs Bush track in the Waitākere Ranges re-opened in July.

“Feedback on the re-opened tracks has been very positive with lots of people getting out and enjoying them. Our messages for track users are to please follow all the rules that apply to the area,” Tolich said.

Dogs aren’t permitted in the regional forests, closed tracks should not be accessed by the public and people are still being encouraged to clean track gear, use cleaning stations and refrain from littering.

Tolich said $6.6 million has been set aside for regional park track upgrades this year, a $4.8m increase from the previous year.

Waitākere Ranges Local Board chairman Greg Presland said track upgrades are important because they provide vital links for the area.

“I look forward to seeing more tracks open as time progresses and thank everyone for their patience during the works.

“I think the results speak for themselves.”