All access points to the park are currently closed, including the Summerhill Carpark entry and both Poplar Lane carparks. Photo / Bay of Plenty Regional Council
All access points to the park are currently closed, including the Summerhill Carpark entry and both Poplar Lane carparks. Photo / Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Work to restore public access at Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park following January’s severe weather event is progressing well, says the regional council.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council said in a statement it hoped to have an alternative walking track open in March.
The heavy rain caused significantdamage throughout the park, blocking walking tracks and restricting vehicle access, the council said.
The council’s coastal catchments manager, Pim de Monchy, said the scale of damage was substantial, and reopening the park safely required careful planning.
“Crews have been on site over the past two weeks assessing the impacts and clearing debris so we can begin constructing an alternative walking track. This will allow people to reach the Karangaumu trig while the wider restoration work continues.”
The alternative track would restore access to the main walking track while repairs continue across the rest of the park.
Walking tracks at the Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park were damaged during severe weather in January. Photo / Bay of Plenty Regional Council
“We know how eager people are to return to the park and get back out on the tracks. While this work is under way, we ask everyone to respect the closure and stay out of the park, for their safety and for the safety of our crews.”
All access points to the park are currently closed, including the Summerhill Carpark entry and both Poplar Lane carparks.
Staff had been working closely in partnership with mana whenua to ensure all decisions continued to respect the cultural and environmental significance of the site, the council said.
