‘Phenomenal’ — track ready soon

FIORDLAND

MONTHS in the making, repair works which cost millions of dollars are set to be completed for the opening of the flooddevastated Milford Track this summer.

In February, flooding caused damage across the South, and Fiordland had more than 820mm of rain — 10% of the region’s annual rainfall, 600mm of it in a 24hour period.

More than 78 tracks on public conservation land were damaged, totalling more than 440km, and Great Walks the Milford Track and the Routeburn Track were hit hard, with 32 bridges damaged.

The Department of Conservation (Doc) was allocated $13.7 million for infrastructure repair in the 2020 Budget.

One of the bridges which needed replacing was the Giants Gate Bridge on the Milford Track, and for the past three weeks a team of contractors has worked on building the new one.

Site manager Matthew Thom said they had spent most of the winter on a ‘‘bridgebuilding spree’’ and began work at Giants Gate just as heavy snow hit the region.

‘‘It’s quite a big logistical effort.’’

Working in such a remote area could be challenging; materials had to be flown in and there were lots of sandflies.

‘‘We put in a heap of preparation before we fly in to these jobs . . . also having a team that is up to it as well, we’re fortunate to have a strong team.’’

Doc principal ranger Grant Tremain said it would be ‘‘fantastic’’ when the track opened to walkers on December 1.

‘‘Just with everything that has been happening with floods and Covid19, the idea we have people walking the Milford Track in 2020 is just phenomenal.’’

Some days, he had not thought that would happen.

‘‘Hats off to everyone coming together and all the New Zealanders that have shown interest in walking it.’’

He described the destruction he saw after the flooding, which included 11 major landslips across the track and waisthigh water.

‘‘The window wasn’t massive for getting this work done, but yeah, we’ve got there.’’

Destination Fiordland manager Madeleine Peacock said getting the Milford and Routeburn tracks open again had been challenging but was exciting.

‘‘We’re looking forward to welcoming people back.’’

She said it would be many

New Zealanders’ first time walking the tracks.

‘‘A lot of these tracks are bucket lists for people and there’s actually no better time to do it.’’

She recalled hiking with her father when she was younger.

‘‘It’s just a really great experience, there’s something really cool about Kiwis getting together outdoors and having a shared experience.

‘‘It’s going to be a fun season

. . . it’s going to be how it used to be for Kiwis before international tourism was really big here.’’

While the Mintaro Hut was not damaged during flooding, its replacement is nearing completion.

Located on day two of the Milford Track, the 30yearold hut was discovered to have been in a potential rockfall zone, and in 2017 planning for its replacement began.

The new hut is about 2km from the existing site and includes the hut warden’s quarters, a suspension bridge and track work through to the new site — it should be open by March 2021, and the estimated cost for the project is $3.4 million.

Undertaking repairs across all damaged tracks is estimated to be a threeyear programme.

PHOTOS: LAURA SMITH Harsh environment . . . Qupplies for the repair work are flown in sy helicopter over the Fiordland mountains.

Qafe crossing . . . The newly suilt sridge at Giants Gate on the Milford Track replaced the old one which was damaged in the Fesruary floods.

Heavy rain . . . More than 78 tracks on puslic conservation land were damaged — including in slips like this — during the Fesruary floods, totalling more than 440km.

Hard work . . . Erwan Coq (left), Ash Rogers, Harlan Johnson and Matthew Thom have spent the past three weeks suilding the new sridge at Giants Gate.

Nestled in the mountains . . . The new Mintaro Hut is on track to se open sy March.

Nearly open . . . Department of Conservation Fiordland principal ranger Grant Tremain says sookings for the Milford Track sold out in record time.