Track upgrades to prevent spread of kauri dieback
Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication.
Introduction
Tracks along the Kauri Coast, on Northland’s west coast, will be temporarily closed while they are upgraded to prevent the spread of kauri dieback.Date: 10 July 2018
DOC is upgrading the tracks between July and December this year. The work includes installing new gravelled tracks, boardwalks, stairways, handrails and a viewing platform.
Tracks will be temporarily closed while they’re being upgraded to ensure the safety of the public and the contractors.
The upgrade of Kauri Bushman’s Track and Tokatoka Track began this month and will take approximately four weeks to complete. The contractor will complete the work on two tracks concurrently before moving on to the next two, minimising the impact of the temporary track closure on track users.
The track closure and opening dates, for each track, will be posted on the DOC website as each track is upgraded. For more information, please contact DOC at the Te Tai Kauri / Kauri Coast office.
DOC will be working with contractors on the following tracks:
- Kauri Bushman’s Track
- Tokatoka Track
- Pakotai Track
- Yakas Walk
- Hauturu Highpoint Track
- Waiotemarama Loop Track.
“The aim is to remove wet and muddy sections of the tracks, where the kauri dieback spores can thrive,” says DOC Kauri Coast Operations Manager Stephen Soole.
“The spores can live in wet soil, so if we take away their habitat, the chances of them being transferred to other areas are minimised.”
Background information: Kauri Dieback Recreation Project
In 2014, the Government provided DOC with funding to manage the human spread of kauri dieback on tracks on public conservation land. This resulted in the Kauri Dieback Recreation Project.
As there is currently no proven cure or treatment for kauri dieback, we can only save kauri by stopping the disease from spreading. To achieve this, the project has taken the following approach:
- upgrading tracks to protect kauri roots and eliminate wet and muddy sections
- developing and installing footwear cleaning stations
- introducing initiatives to change people’s behaviour, as the evidence shows that people are the main vector for the disease
- closing tracks.
Contact
For media enquiries contact:
Email: media@doc.govt.nz
For track closure dates contact:
| Te Tai Kauri / Kauri Coast Office | |
| Phone: | 0800 275 362 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | dargaville@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
150 Colville Road Dargaville |
| Postal Address: |
150 Colville Road RD7 Dargaville 0377 |
| Full office details | |