Walkway shut over access road issue
One of Wellington’s most popular bush tracks, the Cannon Point zigzag walkway in Upper Hutt, will be closed to the public from Wednesday.
The 1.7-kilometre-long climbing track is on Totara Park land owned by Martin Bradley, who wants to sell 76 hectares of former farm land, running north and south of the walkway foothills, for lifestyle block development.
However, an expected sale recently fell through because of a lack of access for vehicles.
As a consequence, Bradley is asking Upper Hutt City Council to approve building a road from Tulsa Reserve, near the walkway’s entrance, to his property. It is an approach he has made before but without success.
Bradley, 76, accepts he is using the walkway’s popularity as leverage with the council.
‘‘I’m gutted to be doing this, I’m gutted to be so desperate and it’s not the public’s fault,’’ he said.
If new access was approved, Bradley would ‘‘happily compensate the loss of land due to this road access’’.
‘‘I’d also assign the rights away to the walkway and bush areas in perpetuity but the council seems cold on the idea,’’ he added.
Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy said any closure of the walkway was a decision for Bradley alone.
‘‘That particular access has only ever been through his goodwill and now he’s made a decision that he doesn’t want anyone to use it. It’s unfortunate the walkway is being used this way and I’m sure people will have an opinion on it.’’
Guppy told Bradley he would look at all paths to reaching a resolution ‘‘but it won’t be easy’’.
‘‘He is demanding that a road go through a public reserve so it wouldn’t be any quick fix. In fact, it would be a long, tortuous process and there might not be a successful outcome.’’
Cannon Point regulars Joni Shepherd and Ally Greaney were disappointed to learn of the imminent closure of their favourite bush walk.
‘‘This is an iconic walk and I’ve often thought how kind it is that the owner lets us use it,’’ Greaney said. ‘‘I like that it is a real bush walk and it is so close to the city, so accessible. It’s very popular.’’
Built by Bradley’s grandfather Frank Whiteman in the 1940s, the Cannon Point Walkway is managed and maintained by Greater Wellington Regional Council.