Mount Brown Hut Community Project: Conservation Champions, December 2011
Celebrating businesses, community groups, iwi and volunteers who are making important contributions to conservation in New Zealand
Mount Brown sits in the Hokitika backcountry, above Styx River and Lake Kaniere.
The Mount Brown Hut Community Project was started by a small not-for-profit volunteer group involved in a 'maintain by community' hut relocation and build project, with an agreement and support from DOC.
It was made up of an informal group of enthusiasts who spent over 2,000 volunteer hours on the project. This included hut demolition and rebuild (using recycled materials as well as new), hand mixing 4 ½ tons of concrete, toilet installation, painting and track work.
Project leaders Julia Bradshaw and Eddie Newman worked with 35 volunteers, 25 sponsors and others who donated funds, to help with the hut from go to woah.
The team's mission was to install and maintain a hut for trampers on the accessible alpine tops near Hokitika for the use of locals and visitors alike, and to encourage people of all ages to spend time in the great outdoors.
The result? New community links were created and like minded people were connected. A new hut in a superb location, and a well maintained track that is highly valued and used by many. It has proved to be a big attraction for hundreds of visitors in the first year alone.
But that's not all. Not long before the first anniversary of the Hut's opening (it opened November 2010), the group was the DOC Conservation Award winner in September 2011. They were the runner up in the 2010 TrustPower Westland Community Awards as well.
"Everyone involved is so proud of Mount Brown Hut and we're absolutely chuffed that it's so popular-that makes the hard bits worthwhile!" says Julia Bradshaw.
"Several walkers have told us that they are excited about being able to introduce the next generation of locals to the challenges and rewards of getting up into the alpine zone."
Finishing the cladding and installing the double glazed windows
View the Mount Brown Hut Community Project photo gallery
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