A great start to the New Year
A greater sense of positivity and optimism as 2024 gets under way
What a start to the year. It’s great to see our towns filled with people enjoying their summer in the Coromandel. I’ve noticed a greater sense of positivity and optimism; time in our part of the world can have that effect.
I know Christmas and New Year make up our peak tourism period, but I think the peninsula only gets better as the summer rolls on. Hopefully, some of our recent visitors will have enjoyed themselves so much that they’ll be back for the upcoming long weekends.
While it’s fantastic to see a constant stream of visitors and locals using the re-opened SH25A, the Coromandel still has its fair share of access issues. Most pressing is the continued closure of the Department of Conservation (DOC) track to Cathedral Cove.
This is an iconic destination that draws people from all around the world. Every day the walking track is closed takes money out of our communities and hurts our reputation as a world-class tourism provider.
I’ve met with DOC officials, Thames-coromandel District Council Mayor Len Salt and representatives from Nga¯ ti Hei to discuss how we can provide a safe accessway as soon as possible. It was beneficial to have Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka visit the site. This gave him a first-hand understanding of the situation, and we were able to stress the wider impact this track has on our communities.
I think Tama’s visit and the subsequent visit from the Minister for Tourism Matt Doocey show the Government is aware of the situation and the needs of the community. The project is a priority, but there remain a few obstacles to overcome before foot access can be re-established.
I have stressed the importance of this walking track to all involved, and it was good for the ministers to get a first-hand understanding of the situation. DOC now has to determine whether a quick fix is possible, and this needs to be balanced with what the site needs longer-term.
Like many in our community, I want the track to re-opened as soon as possible. So, we need a solution to achieve that and also one that addresses other issues, including parking and how to manage ablutions and litter.
The wait is frustrating, but this is an opportunity to ensure Cathedral Cove remains a top international tourist destination for many years to come.