No major damage to Canterbury tracks, but more closures and no ‘all clear’ yet, says DOC

Date:  10 September 2010

Preliminary checks to tracks, huts and visitor facilities in Canterbury have so far revealed no major damage, but the Department of Conservation (DOC) is asking people to continue to stay away until inspections are fully completed.

Further areas have been closed following initial checks and are awaiting detailed inspections from engineers:

• Sharplin Falls Track in the Raukapuka area, due to landslips making certain places impassable
• Staveley Lime Kiln near Mt Somers, due to fallen masonry
• Ōtamahua/Quail Island, as the wharf is unsafe
• Godley Head – several areas including the tunnel are closed due to landslips and masonry cracks
• Kaituna and Mount Bradley trails in the Port Hills area due to landslips, and Packhorse trail in the same area due to a cracked chimney and fallen lintel (all damage minor)
• Motukarara Little River Rail Trail cycle track – access blocked
• Ripapa Island – minor damage to historic buildings

In addition:

• Otukaikino Reserve north of Christchurch remains closed due to structural damage
• The Pinnacles Hut track near Mt Somers is now open
• The all-clear has been given to areas south of Geraldine

Events planned for the area during Conservation Week (12th – 19th September) have been cancelled:

• Riccarton Bush family event, ‘Meet the forest families’ originally planned for Sunday 12th September
• Night walks, ‘Walk with kiwi’, planned for 10th and 18th September

Cheryl Colley, DOC’s Community Relations Manager for Canterbury region, said: “Luckily we’ve not found any major problems so far. The areas we’ve closed are to ensure people’s safety while we clear up, but we’d ask people to stay away from tracks and facilities in the affected areas until we can give the all clear, which hopefully will be the middle of next week.”

DOC staff are continuing to assist civil defence and emergency services teams wherever possible. One of the department’s trained fire support officers has taken on a major role with Christchurch’s civil defence operation.

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