Chambers Walk track in Hawke's Bay's Te Mata Park closed for maintenance

Chambers Walk on Te Mata Peak will be closed for maintenance. Photo / File

One of the main access tracks in to Te Mata Park, Chambers Walk, will be closed for maintenance for three days next week.

"These improvements are essential, to ensure better drainage and safer terrain," Te Mata Park Trust chairman Mike Devonshire said.

The work will take place from Wednesday, February 14 to Friday, February 16. Tauroa Car Park will also be closed during this time.

Chambers Walk will be closed at the lower end, from Tauroa car park, through to the hairpin bend, at the intersection with Te Kahu mountain bike track (near to the entry to Webbs Bush).

The upper stretch of Chambers Walk will still be open, and unaffected.

"The closure will affect a number of tracks that intersect with Chambers Walk. We do ask Park users to be mindful of this closure when planning your walking or biking circuit, and alter your route, as necessary.

"Park users will also need to avoid the Tauroa Rd end, and park instead at the Gates car park. We realise that parking here is already fairly limited. If you can walk or bike to the park instead of driving, this would be preferable."

"For walkers, you will not be able to complete some circuits that cross lower Chambers Walk, including the purple Redwoods Loop, and the red Giant Loop. Mountain bikers, you will not be able to ride the lower end of Te Kahu or the Exit Trails, and must instead head upwards to the Gates car park."

Hawke's Bay Regional Council contractors are undertaking the work. The project has been in the pipeline for some time.

"Chambers Walk has become increasingly boggy and slippery, particularly during winter, so we are pleased that this work is now underway, in anticipation of the forthcoming wetter months.

"We request that all park users respect this closure, and do not attempt to access the closed area. There will be machinery and trucks operating during these three days, and it will not be a safe environment for walkers, runners or bikers."