Talking Point: Pleased by desire to avoid further disruption

The Craggy Range Track. Photo / Duncan Brown

As a supporter of the Craggy Range - Te Mata Peak Track, I was pleased to learn recently of Craggy Range's Michael Wilding's expressed desire to avoid further disruption to the landscape, and being more aware of the considerable interest the track has created, that the process of possibly removing the track was looking to be a great deal more complicated than at first thought. Having already invested a considerable amount of time, effort and money in the creation of the track it is surely understandable how Wilding's view of the whole process has altered.

There has already been much discussion on the process that saw a consent initially granted by the Hastings District Council for the track to be created, and I gather there has been acceptance by many, including Tangata Whenua, that the process Council staff followed needs to be altered to allow wider discussion of the development of such areas of cultural significance, and a due process followed.

Robert McDonald and others protesting at Craggy Range regarding the retention of the track, are simply covering issues well and truly already recognised by many. I was also never aware that Tangata Whenua had any particular ''right'' to determine how the landscape should or shouldn't be developed and utilised by other New Zealanders, other than being a party to any process to determine possible development of such areas.

It is well recognised that Te Mata Peak in its entirety is an outstanding natural feature of the Hastings district landscape, and as such has attracted the attention of not only those who are interested in recreational pursuits through the development of the Te Mata Park walking and cycling tracks and viewing areas, but on its western slopes has seen a number of houses built and current redevelopment of the park facilities. There is also evidence of bulldozed tracks on both the eastern and western slopes, having been created in earlier times when consents were not required.

This begs the question of whether the whole of the Te Mata Peak landscape is of significance or are many being selective in what areas they view? Much of the eastern face remains almost entirely in its natural state, and again, the area the track has been developed on is only a very small portion of that face, and the land in question privately owned.

There have been many, mostly derogatory, comments on the scarring of the face that occurred during the initial development, but the reality is whenever ground works occur there will be initial disruption, much of which will be mitigated in time by grasses regenerating or plantings of other species. This, I gather from Craggy Range with input from landscape designers, is very much how they now see the blending of the track development with the surrounding landscape.

Many of those commenting on the track view from the adjoining Waimarama Rd have quite obviously not bothered to walk the track and view and appreciate the natural features of the outstanding Te Mata-Tukituki landscape and the enhancement of some of that area by Craggy Range itself.

Having travelled the Waimarama road several times in recent weeks I have observed a number of vehicles parked in the vicinity and people on the track on every occasion.

I continue to believe the track should remain and to those opposing its retention, I would say that the creation of this track has already allowed a great many more people, whether they be locals or visitors to the region, the opportunity to view another aspect of our outstanding landscape and possibly gauging their levels of fitness at the same time, particularly in today's world where levels of fitness and access to natural features of the landscape are viewed with increased appreciation by many.

* Ralph Harper is a retired sheep and cattle farmer living on a small block on Te Mata Peak Rd