A difficult part of the track where stock, foot traffic and water have erroded a deep channel. |
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION PROPOSES UPGRADE FOR SMUGGLERS BAY TRACK.
The Smugglers Bay loop track is a popular walk for visitors to the Bream Head Scenic Reserve. But according to the Department of Conservation spokesperson, Shaughan Anderson, at a public meeting in McLeod Bay hall on Wednesday 11th October it falls below the DoC Service Standard for a Day Visitor Track. Under the Recreation Opportunity Review (2004) DoC has a commitment to the community to meet these standards, and hence proposes an upgrade and maintenance programme over the next 12 months for the Smugglers track.
Apart from using the existing alignment and grass surfaces where the standard is currently met the proposed work will include things such as:
• draining wet and muddy sections to improve water runoff with the inclusion of culverts in some places for easier crossing.
• the construction of drainage channels on the uphill side of tracks to reduce washout and track erosion.
• widening the walking surface of the track in some places to a minimum of 1 metre with a clearance of vegetation to 1 metre on either side of the track's mid line and to a height of 2 metres above the track.
• using reduced gradient or steps where steepness exceeds the standard.
• moving the track to a higher alignment where plantings will eventually block harbour views.
• some realignment to prevent damage to archaeological sites of significance.
• creating an access track from the loop to Smugglers Beach to prevent further damage to the sensitive dune ecology.
“One thing we are keen to emphasise is the sensitivity of the work,” says Shaughan; “...this is our attitude to archaeological [and] historic features that ... NZers value, and importantly the experience that we all appreciate; we have no wish to construct a super highway but equally there is a need to improve the track.”
It will be great to have this upgrading, because not only will it make the track accessible to a greater range of people as a day walk, but it will also reduce the impact of these walkers on the Reserve's ecology. Once the upgrade has been completed ongoing maintenance will be important. That's where a team of Friends of Bream Head could work with DoC to ensure that the tax payers' money is not wasted.
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