Memorial great walk to include bikes
A new great walk being built as a memorial to the 29 men who died in the Pike River mine disaster will be open to trampers and mountain bikers.
Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith launched the new Paparoa National Park management plan on the West Coast yesterday, saying the 65-kilometre walk between Blackball and Punakaiki would provide access to ‘‘spectacular and diverse landscapes’’.
Work on the $10 million track is expected to start in the late autumn, and construction of the 20-bunk Moonlight Tops and Pororari huts will start next summer.
About 50km of new track is needed to join up 15km of existing tracks at the Blackball and Punakaiki ends. The full track is due to open at the end of 2018.
Smith said the Pike River Families Committee chose the name Paparoa Track for the Great Walk, while a 9km track from the Paparoa Track to the Pike River mine site would be called the Pike 29 Memorial Track.
Pike River Families Committee chairman Colin Smith said the track would be an enduring memorial for the families and would bring economic benefit to the West Coast. ‘‘The families also wanted a way to give back to the West Coast community and New Zealand for the significant support they received after the mine tragedy.
‘‘A lot we have been involved in over the last six years has been quite negative. This process has been positive, refreshing and rewarding.’’
Bernie Monk, whose son Michael died in the mine, said the economic benefits of the walk would be ‘‘huge’’. The families had favoured allowing mountain bikers to use the track, as well as trampers, so the tourism potential could be maximised.
About five people stood outside the Barrytown Hall, during Smith’s announcement yesterday, to protest allowing mountain bikes on the Inland Pack Track section.
At the Punakaiki end, the Pororari River Track will be for walkers only, with mountain bikers exiting through the southern end of the Inland Pack Track.
Protester Brenda Kaye said the Save the Inland Pack Track group had asked the Government to reconsider the route for mountain bikers. ‘‘Putting bicycles on the popular and iconic Pack Track severely degrades the experience for walkers as they have to be alert against collisions, and would require significant bulldozing of the beautiful bush to make the track suitable for bikes.’’
Smith acknowledged allowing mountain bikers on the track was controversial. ‘‘If we are to maximise the opportunity for people to enjoy this area we should make provision for mountain bikes. There have been mountain bikes on the Heaphy Track and it has worked well.’’