Track volunteers Austin Oliver and Angus Robson have put forward a proposal to fix the track at their own expense that Whakatāne District Council is currently considering.
Photo: Diane McCarthy
Whakatāne District Council has installed new fencing and warning signs around the Ōhope Beach Lookout to West End section of Ngā Tapuwai o Toi Track.
Twelve new signs were installed last week to warn that the track is closed because of extreme danger and risk to life due to severe and ongoing landslide risk.
It comes after reports of people walking the popular trail and even digging their own tracks on the hillside, despite danger signs.
The signs have been attached to more secure safety fencing blocking access from the lookout end of the section of track.
A statement from council staff last month said unauthorised track repairs carried out on slip sites were “reckless and unacceptable”.
Austin Oliver, a spokesperson for a team of volunteers who have made a proposal to the council to fix the track at their own expense, said it was disappointing the council was putting money toward blocking the track.
“That’s money that could have been put toward fixing it,” he said.
New fencing and signs at the Ōhope Lookout end of the closed section of track.
Photo: Supplied via LDR
A council spokesperson said the replacement signs and fencing were required as previous signs and fencing had been removed or damaged. The signs and other materials cost around $1500, including gst.
Austin said the council was being overly cautious around track safety. He believed the track was less dangerous than many Department of Conservation managed tracks in New Zealand.
He said he recently climbed a high peak near Dargaville he considered far riskier than the track at West End, which had one small sign at the bottom warning the track was “slippery when wet, be careful”.
The track volunteers were awaiting a decision by council staff on whether their proposal meets the criteria of the request for proposals put out by the council for repair of the track.
New fencing and signs at the Ōhope Lookout end of the closed section of track.
Photo: Supplied via LDR
He said another area of the Ngā Tapuwai o Toi circuit he is awaiting permission from the council to repair was between Seaview Road and Kōhī Point, where steps had been washed out.
“I’ve got about $4000 worth of timber that has been donated by ITM. We were set to do that but [the council] don’t have an archeological permit to do it.”
He was told that the Archeological Authority, which must be applied for by the council, to maintain the track had expired two years ago and had not been renewed.
“We’ve got all the volunteers and materials ready to go. You would think the council would be falling over themselves to help us any way they can.”
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.