IMPORTANT INFORMATION re: looming Waitākere Ranges closure

Simon Smith Reporter from Western Leader

Updated 15/3/18 - There's only a few days left to have your say on the looming closure of the Waitākere Ranges by May 19 - and we can reveal the tracks that may remain open.

Below are also a few other points we think you should know, so please scroll down.

1) The specific tracks that the council is looking to keep open when most of the forest is closed has been notably absent from the discussion. [EDIT: the map and list of tracks is available as part of the consultation, but you wouldn't know it was there until you filled out pages of information. You can download (a higher res version of) the map on Scribd here: tinyurl.com/WaitakTrackMap and the official list of tracks here: tinyurl.com/WaitakTrackList ] The map is attached to this post, with the blue tracks the ones that might stay open. The list of these tracks is cut and pasted below, with stars on those that are not yet up to standard, but hopefully will be by May 1:

ANAWHATA BEACH TRACK
ARATAKI NATURE TRAIL
BEVERIDGE TRACK
*BYERS TRACK
CAVE ROCK TRACK
CON BRYAN TRACK
*DREAMLANDS TRACK
EXHIBITION DRIVE WALK (Watercare)
HUIA DAM ROAD (Watercare)
IAN WELLS TRACK (Partial - Piha Road to Auxillary Dam)
KAKAMATUA BEACH WALK
KAKAMATUA INLET TRACK
KARAMATURA LOOP WALK
*KITEKITE TRACK
*KNUTZEN TRACK
LAIRD THOMPSON TRACK
LAKE WAINAMU TRACK
*LARGE KAURI WALK
LION ROCK TRACK
*LONG ROAD TRACK (Partial - from road end to where paddock meets the forest)
LOOKOUT TRACK (Arataki Visitor Centre)
MANUKAU BAR VIEW WALK
MARAWHARA WALK
MCELWAIN LOOKOUT TRACK
MCLACHLAN MONUMENT TRACK
MERCER BAY LOOP TRACK
MT DONALD MC LEAN WALK
*OMANAWANUI TRACK
*OPANUKU PIPELINE TRACK (Partial - from Mountain Road to the campground)
*ORPHEUS GRAVES WALK
PARARAHA VALLEY TRACK
PARKER TRACK
PIPELINE ROAD and part of PIPELINE TRACK (Watercare)
*PURIRI RIDGE TRACK
ROSE TRACK
SIGNAL HOUSE TRACK
SLIP TRACK
SPRAGGS MONUMENT TRACK
TASMAN LOOKOUT TRACK
TE HENGA WALKWAY (DOC)
UPPER NIHOTUPU DAM ROAD (Watercare) AND UPPER NIHOTUPU WALK
WAITAKERE DAM WALK (Watercare)
WHITE TRACK
ZIG-ZAG TRACK

2) You have to actually click on Submit Feedback on the council's Have Your Say section of its website to get more than a few sentences of explanation as to the situation. Go directly there with this link: tinyurl.com/ClosureFeedback

3) Te Kawerau ā Maki has issued a press release - effectively saying it is working with the council to ensure the council closures, future opens and its rāhui line up. It also clarified the rāhui extends to all forested areas in the heritage area and beyond, including the regional park, local parks and Goldies Bush. Private landowners in the area are also asked to act as guardians of their forest areas. See the full press release here: tinyurl.com/TeKawerauRelease. The list of tracks currently outside the rāhui is here: tinyurl.com/OutsideRahui

4) Kauri dieback is not just rife in the regional park but also in our local parks. It is present in at least six of 22 local parks in the Waitākere Ranges Local Board area: Taumatarea Esp, Marama Plantation, Mahoe Walk, Huia Scenic Reserve, Otitori Reserve and Bill Haresnape Walk. This information is based on 2012/13 data, so more of the 22 are likely impacted. The Waitākere Ranges Local Board has responsibility for these local parks and is working out what it should do. These forested areas fall under the rāhui.

5) The local board is upset that for the general public there are no public meetings planned, probably because of the tight time frame. People have to fill out the online submission - by March 19, 8pm. [Edit: there will be a drop-in session for questions on Friday, March 16, at Arataki Visitor Centre, from 10am – 2pm.]