Popular track set for sizeable chop

Part of the popular Harakeke Mountain Bike Park may be forced to close as the owners of the forest want to harvest it ahead of schedule. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO A-180312WCSMMOUNTAINBIKE7

A popular Wanganui mountain bike track may be downsized because part of the forest it is in will be felled.

The Harakeke Mountain Bike Park, located in a forest owned by Ernslaw One Ltd, was opened in March last year.

Now the company wants to harvest some of the trees surrounding the trail two years ahead of schedule.

Frank Rawlinson, who planned the course, said about 13.5km of track was in the area to be harvested, known as the "Old Forest", with another 21km in the "New Forest".

"The Old Forest is being harvested two years earlier than planned, beginning in mid-September, but we always expected that. There is some talk that some consideration is being given as to what happens with the New Forest, which is made up of much younger trees.

"It's very different riding because the New Forest has shorter bits of track, whereas the Old is much more continuous. Some people prefer one and some the other. It's horses for courses, really."

Mr Rawlinson said the Wanganui Mountain Bike Club hoped to get access once the Old Forest was milled, which he said would be in about three years' time, but that it was ultimately the decision of the land owner and the foresters.

"The whole reason a plantation is grown is so it can be harvested, but the Old Forest isn't likely to go back to trees.

"It's their prerogative to do as they choose within the law of the land, and we're very fortunate to have been given access to it."

He said the New Forest was expected to stand for 20 years, so there was hope the track would remain "for some time" but said the site's profile needed to be raised for its future to be secure.

"It's a great place for children, parents, people with grandkids to play in a safe and secure environment. It's a very good place to cut your teeth on.

"We need to remind the community of what we've got here - it's such a useful community asset."

The land is owned by Rangitikei iwi Ngati Apa, and group manager Grant Huwyler said no decision had yet been made about the land and discussions about options were ongoing. He said the iwi could give no further comment at this time.

Ernslaw One did not respond to the Chronicle's inquiries before press time yesterday.