The
BEES IN THE BAYS PAGE 10
Eastbourne Herald www.eastbourneherald.co.nz
25 January 2014
Ph 562 7500
Public pressure delays Muritai Track re-route by Emily Tilley The quick action of locals has earned the Muritai Track a reprieve from being re-routed and Greater Wellington Regional Council will now consult the community on the future of the track. The regional council had planned to close the track last Monday in order to create a new route for most of it. However, a week before the work commenced local woman Michelle Greenwood spotted a sign advising the upcoming work and raced into action, speaking to GWRC and sending out emails that were quickly forwarded to residents throughout the Bays. As a result GWRC received around eighty emails from concerned track-walkers. Within 48 hours of Michelle first contacting GWRC, the regional council called a temporary halt to the planned work and promised to discuss the proposal with track users. “I’m really impressed with Greater Wellington ... how well they’ve responded,” Ms Greenwood says. A public meeting will now be held at the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club on Tuesday, February 4 so that GWRC representatives can listen to community concerns, explain their reasons for wanting change and discuss options for the future of the track. GWRC’s plan is for the current track to be decommissioned and a new track created that would run from the current entrance to the lower lookout spur, along a regenerating ridge to the south of the existing track, and rejoin the existing track approximately sixty metres down from the Muritai/Mackenzie track junction. The aim of the changes would be to bring the track into line with national walking track standards by widening it and reducing the gradient. GWRC says that due to the degraded state
of the current track any major work on it would cause environmental damage to the surrounding area, including the likelihood of killing mature beech trees: therefore to create a wider, less steep track, the creation of an entirely new track is necessary. The new track would also be easier and more cost efficient to maintain. Ms Greenwood is concerned that the new track would Michelle Greenwood was first alerted to the proposal to realign the Muritai Track by her only pass through friend Beverley Richards who spotted a Greater Wellington sign. The two have since put up their own signs encouraging people to contact the regional council and advising of the a small section of postponement of the work. actual bush, most would go through She says the number of emails that continue regenerating manuka and much of the shade and beauty of the track that passes through mature to stream into her inbox indicate that locals feel strongly about the track and most mirror her beech would be lost. She is also concerned by the planned even- concerns Ms Greenwood is pleased GWRC has graded gravel paths which she says are slippery, especially when going downhill, and can be very arranged next month’s public meeting. “The hard on knees as the constant even grade means fact that they are prepared to engage with the community - that’s so cool,” she says. knees don’t get a variety of motion. Eastbourne Community Board member She was particularly concerned that there didn’t seem to have been any public consultation, Robert Ashe says although GWRC “failed only a notice put up a week before the work was spectacularly” to consult with the community on a proposed major change to a much loved track, to commence. Ms Greenwood says whether GWRC’s plans it has now “done the right thing” by postponing go ahead or not, the most important thing for closing the track until a public meeting has her is that the council hears from the community, been held. the community hears why the work is proposed and GWRC has a chance to address concerns. Continues Page 7
Happy New Year from all the team at East by West PEAK COMMUTER SAILINGS Departing Days Bay Mon - Fri: 6.50am, 7.15am, 7.45am, 8.05am, 8.35am, 9.10am. Departing Queens Wharf Mon - Fri: 4.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm, 5.50pm, 6.30pm, 7pm. For sailing status information please phone 494-3339
www.eastbywest.co.nz
MONTHLY PASSES ADULT $270 STUDENT $199 10 TRIP PASSES ADULT $87.00 STUDENT $61.00
Ph 494 3339
SEE FULL TIMETABLE page 2