Blue Spring walkway to be closed for up to a year
Thursday, 2 November 2023
Rockfall and risky parking have shut the “hidden gem” of Putāruru’s Blue Spring and Te Waihou Walkway for up to a year while the council finds a solution.
That’s unlikely to be simple or quick, South Waikato District Council says, but it’s not going to wait for an accident to happen at the site.
Part of the walkway, about 5km north of Putāruru, was closed in June after a rockfall forced the council to close the main carpark entrance near Leslie Rd.
Since then, visitors have been using the Whites Rd carpark on State Highway 28 but, according to a council statement, this means cars and their occupants spill out on to the state highway causing issues for road users.
Opened in the early 2000s, the 4.5km walkway will be closed to the public on Monday, November 13 and should be reopened by November next year.
The council said it did not know how much it would cost to repair the walkway but was working on options to open it sooner.
“It needs investigating properly and council is not prepared to wait for an accident to occur at that site while we do that,” the council’s acting executive manager for delivery Shane Anderson said.
“The good news is that the walkway will re-open, but a lot of work needs to be done before that can happen,” Anderson said.
Maintenance of the walkway is carried out by the council, but the land over which the walkway runs is owned by local farmers, private land owners, the Department of Conservation and the council.
Anderson said the walkway’s management plan was being reviewed so “council and our partners can carry out a thorough assessment of the respective roles of stakeholders involved”.
It’s the second closure of a major walking track and tourist attraction in the region after the track to Cathedral Cove was closed indefinitely in August.
Riverside Adventures owner Steve Hastie said he would often recommend the walk to international tourists before heading off on a glow worm tour with his company.
“We’d send them to the Blue Spring, and the feedback was always good.
“It’s definitely a shame to have it closed, we can understand the safety point of view but it will be a shame for the public and overseas guests. It really is a little hidden gem, it’s not widely known and people always enjoy themselves there.”
Taupō MP Louise Upston, whose electorate covers Putāruru, said the reality was “the council have to make a decision based on the concerns that have been raised”.
“I’m obviously concerned it is closed, but more concerned about how long it will be closed for,” she said.
“Hopefully the parties will meet with some urgency to come up with a plan for it to be opened sooner than this time next year.
“The spring is a real asset for the region and I’m also concerned about the missed opportunities with it being closed for an extended period.”
In the meantime, Anderson said the council would be installing fencing and signage at both entrances to the walkway.
“We ask the public to stay away from the area for their own safety.”
Anderson said catering for more parking at the Leslie Rd end would not solve the issue of the rockfall, “so would be a pointless cost”.
“Securing land, renting land or developing land for additional parking at the Whites Rd end may be an option.
“We are consulting with landowners on several matters, including possible parking solutions.”
He said the walkway could be opened earlier than November next year.
“We don’t want to over-promise on an estimated opening because finding a solution and implementing a solution is unlikely to be simple or quick.”
“We wanted to give ourselves time to do a thorough investigation into all the components, from land ownership, access rights, public safety, parking, surety of water supply, and maintenance.