News Release

Track closed for wilding pine removal

The Cooper mountain bike trail that threads through the eastern side of Mt Parihaka will be closed for the next three weeks while wilding pines are removed.

The track is on one of a complex network that zig zags and loops through former forestry land between Abbey Caves Road and Memorial Drive.

“The area became popular with mountain bike riders when it was a pine forest owned by Council,” said WDC Park’s Technical Officer Spencer Jellyman.

“When the forest was felled the area was meant to revert back to natural native forest, but the ‘wilding pines’ (off-spring of the original pine forest), have been taking over and preventing the natural bush from re-generating.

“In the next three weeks we will be going into the area to clear out 22Ha of wilding pines, so the natural bush can take hold. We will be closing the Cooper track where the work is being done, and signs will be posted, but this is a heads up to any enthusiasts thinking of heading out there in the next three weeks.”