Don’t close TRACKS — trampers
Walkers are concerned about DOC’s proposal to close Coromandel Peninsula tracks to protect trees from kauri dieback disease.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) plans to permanently close several tracks and is considering partially closing others.
DOC gave until May 30 for a small number of community groups to give feedback on the proposed closures.
Kauaeranga Tramping Club tracks officer Greg Laslett said the club was concerned about DOC’s consultation process.
He said the club had requested DOC’s recent kauri population survey, which would allow realistic discussion about where tracks intersect groves of kauri, but had not yet received it.
He was also concerned that walking groups from further afield had not been invited to submit, along with many school groups who use the tracks.
‘‘It’s a very popular area, Coromandel is the playground of northern New Zealand,’’ he said.
The group believes DOC should upgrade the tracks to keep them open.
‘‘Upgrade of a track system to protect kauri involves eliminating wet and muddy sections, improving track drainage and building boardwalks.’’
The club also believes a higher altitude set of ridge tracks connecting Thames to Coroglen would mean walkers would be above areas preferred by kauri, which normally grow below 600m, and would possibly be cold enough to impede any disease spread.
The club estimated walkers contributed about $500,000 each year to the local economy and track closures would affect business and employment, he said.
‘‘By gutting these tracks, future visitor growth in this sector may be stymied,’’ he said.
He said closing tracks would also have a social impact.
‘‘If the back country tracks are lost, where will people learn and enjoy wilderness skills?
‘‘We basically feel like we’re fighting for the survival of our walking heritage.’’
He hoped that once DOC published the rationale for its draft plan, which should include the local kauri population survey, further public consultation would occur, he said.
A DOC spokesperson said the Kauri Dieback Recreation Project said there were no specific dates for closure yet.
Consultation would be completed by the end of July, when all feedback would be considered and a final decision made, he said.
‘‘DOC will notify those consulted, and inform the general public of the finalised list.’’
DOC will publish a full list of the proposed closure of tracks throughout the kauri region on its website this week.
The disease has so far been found in northern Coromandel, but not in the Kauaeranga Valley or on the Thames Coast. ❚ Kauri dieback, or Phytophthora agathidicida, is caused by a microscopic spore in the soil that attacks the roots and trunks of kauri.
❚ It damages the tissues that carry nutrients within the tree, meaning they starve to death.
❚ The disease is easily spread by human movement as it can be carried in soil on footwear.
❚ It’s also spread by pigs.
❚ In the past decade, kauri dieback has killed thousands of trees.
❚ The origin of the disease is not yet known, and there’s no cure.