Tramping guides help with farm cleanup
Hiking guides waiting for the reopening of the Routeburn Track are helping to clean up flood-damaged farms in Athol and Garston this week.
Ultimate Hikes guide manager Tony Phillips, of Queenstown, said the company was pleased to provide staff to help remove debris off farms.
Between 15 and 20 guides work on the Routeburn Track, which was damaged by recent flooding.
‘‘We’ll have four or five ... different people [on farms] each day,’’ Phillips said. ‘‘It’s good to help our community.’’
Phillips hopes to free up time today to join staff on a farm, while other employees are clearing wilding pine around Queenstown this week.
He contacted Southland Federated Farmers vice-president Bernadette Hunt last week about providing staff for the cleanup.
Hunt said: ‘‘It’s marvellous what they’re doing ... They’ve been affected [by flooding] themselves and they’re reaching out to help others. We’re so grateful for their offer.’’
Phillips, who is in charge of 64 guides, understands the Routeburn Track could reopen next week.
Usually, 11,500 hikers are on the Routeburn and Milford tracks during the season.
Meanwhile, the North Canterbury Rural Support Trust has sent two pallets of donated nonperishable food and dog food to Southland farmers.
The Southland Rural Support Trust, joined by personnel from agricultural businesses and support groups, distributed the goods to 110 of the worst-affected farms.
Another two or three pallets would be sent south later this week, the North Canterbury trust’s chairman, Andy Munro, said. Items will include a grocery hamper donated by St Margaret’s College in Christchurch.
Munro said the assistance with organising and transporting food to Southland had been amazing. ‘‘When you get an adverse event, it’s human nature to get in and help out.’’
The Southland trust had sent personnel to help in North Canterbury immediately after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, as well as during times of drought in North Canterbury.