Four wheel drive club helps DOC
Date: 10 August 2009
Opportunities to four-wheel-drive on public land are not that common in the Manawatu. In fact, Takapari Road in the Pohangina Valley is the only four-wheel-drive road managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) in the area. The Manawatu Four Wheel Drive Club has offered to help the Department maintain Takapari Road and ensure this off-road opportunity is available for locals to enjoy in the future.
Takapari Road ventures up to the tops of the Ruahine Ranges, near A-Frame shelter (also known as Travers Hut). In 2008, a barrier was erected at the top of the road, about 1 km before the shelter. The road had fallen into a state of disrepair with slips taking away chunks of road and earth, creating a significant hazard. The position of the barrier, before A-Frame shelter, was intended to make the hut less vulnerable to vandalism. However, in the year that it has been there, the barrier itself has also been a victim of vandalism several times.
Takapari Road in its current state
Constant repairs to the barrier have become a burden on department resources. But, thanks to the commitment of the local four-wheel drive club, the road will be made safe so the barrier can be removed once and for all. Once the road is up to standard, the entire 17 km length of Takapari Road will be freely and safely accessible to 4WD's. Four wheel drive club members will monitor the road condition and help with maintenance.
DOC hopes to start doing some repair and re-alignment work on Takapari Road within the next three weeks. This will allow four wheel drive users and mountain bikers to safely access the entire length of Takapari Road. It is important that road-users keep to the track for personal safety and to reduce the impact on the environment. The road may be temporarily blocked by contractor vehicles while the work is being done. DOC Ranger Duncan Toogood does not expect the work will cause major delays, but recommends road-users contact the Department to find out about road conditions before heading out. "It is worth noting though that while the first half of Takapari Road is a relatively easy four-wheel-drive experience, once past the A-Frame it gets more challenging and I would recommend that only experienced four-wheel-drivers go further along", says Mr Toogood.