Hunua Ranges Regional Park tracks closed for goat control

28 May 2007
During June the Auckland Regional Council will close several tracks in Hunua Ranges Regional Park for goat control operations.

The track closures relating to goat control will not affect the Hunua Ranges Regional Park’s most popular walking track around Hunua Falls. This will remain open and visitors are welcome. The Lower Mangatawhiri mountain bike and horse riding tracks will be affected in the period 25 – 29 June 2007.

The following tracks and campsites will be closed from 5 – 13 June:
Mine Road and onto Mine Road Track, Kohukohunui Track, Upper Mangatawhiri Track, Kohukohunui Trig Track, Lilburne Road Track, Rata Ridge Track, Ernies Track, Challenge Track, Waterline Road, Mangatangi Ridge Track, Waharau Ridge Track, Upper Link Track, Lower Link Track, Adams Lookout camp site, Piggotts camp site.

The following tracks and campsites will be closed between 5 – 8 June and between 14 – 22 June:
Lilburne Road Track, Mangatangi Hill Road (Pukapuka Track to Mangatangi Dam), Pukapuka Track, Mangatangi Trig Track (Pukapuka Track to Workman Road), Workman Road (park boundary to Mangatangi Dam), Workman Track, Whakatiwai Ridge Track, Waharau Ridge Track, Ernies Track, Mangatangi Ridge Track, Rata Ridge Track, Piggotts camp site, Workman camp site.

Between 25 – 29 June the following tracks and campsites will be closed:
Pukapuka Track, Lilburne Road Track, Mangatangi Trig Track, Lower Mangatawhiri Track, Mangatangi Hill Road, Graeme White Road, Moumoukai Valley Road, Manning Road, Repeater Road, Plows Road, Mine Road (access to Kohukohunui Track, all mountain bike tracks, all horse riding tracks, Wairoa Loop Track, Suspension Bridge Track, Wairoa –Cosseys Track, all Waytemore Forest, Upper and Lower Mangatawhiri camp sites, Piggotts camp site.

All tracks will be open for recreational use on weekends and public holidays.

Signs will be placed at all track entry points including car parks and arrival zones to inform visitors about temporary closure of tracks and campsites, including restrictions on recreational hunting.

ARC Biosecurity Southern Team Leader Mark Geaney says the areas are being targeted for their high conservation value, which is potentially under threat from wild goats and possums.

“Possum and goat control is an essential part of improving the biodiversity of the Hunua Ranges Regional Park. The ARC has made great progress in goat control in the Hunua Ranges in the last two years. The support of local farmers in the associated Hunua buffer goat programme has been vital to overall success,” he says.

People wanting further information on pest control operations in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park should call the ARC on 09 366 2000.

ENDS

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