Great Walk status would bring advantages

THE Tuatapere community sees ‘‘large advantages’’ in making the Hump Ridge Track a Great Walk, but questions remain over its future management.

The 61km Fiordland loop track was announced on Thursday as one of three frontrunners to be New Zealand’s next Great Walk, by the Department of Conservation (Doc).

The other two were the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds and Northland’s Te Paki Coastal Track.

Tuatapere Hump Track Ltd board chairman Don Frengley said there would be ‘‘very large advantages for the community’’ if it won the bid.

‘‘It’s pretty remote, it’s kind of the end of the world. The tourism route down there and the track are significant activities to the town.

‘‘Getting more people who may spend a night or two in the town will be quite an advantage.’’

However, the track was built and is maintained by a community trust, so there was the question of how future management of the track would work.

‘‘In the next few months we’ll be working out with Doc exactly how we fit it all together. It makes so much sense as long as the partnership works.’’

The department’s final decision will take many factors into account, such as calculating how much each track will cost to bring to Great Walk standard.

Mr Frengley said this would not cost too much at Hump Ridge.

‘‘The huts are pretty good and a large part of the track is a pretty good standard. It’s got somewhere around 10km of boardwalk.

‘‘Other sections get a bit muddy when it rains and there are some sections which will need some work.’’

Tuatapere Community Board chairwoman Margaret Thomas said having a Great Walk on the doorstep would be ‘‘wonderful news for the town’’.

‘‘It has wonderful mountains and views.

‘‘Another advantage is the infrastructure is all there. The accommodation is good, the tracks are good. There’s capacity for more people to do it.

‘‘They would also hopefully spend some time in Tuatapere.’’