Date:  03 May 2017

The much-loved Hakarimata Summit Track at Ngaruawahia is on the way to recovery. If things go quickly, its fans could be up and running it in a month, says DOC’s Waikato Operations Manager Ray Scrimgeour.

Undermining and damage to the famous 1349-step staircase during the recent "Tasman Tempest", meant that for safety reasons, the track had to be closed pending an engineers' report. 

Having received the engineers' report Operations Manager Ray Scrimgeour has given Frame Group Ltd the go-ahead to design the repairs to the track. "The track has been undermined, so we are going to build a retaining wall with grouted anchors, but the key is to get a good design, he said."

Mr Scrimgeour acknowledged the many offers of help from the Waikato District Council, who have been very supportive, and from the community.

"We are aware of a community initiative to work on the track, and would like to thank the people involved. We have, however, already obtained our engineers' report and once the design is completed to standard, building consent obtained, a suitable contractor appointed, then the building work can start."

"The building consent process is designed to ensure that the structures and repairs will be fit for people to safely use. In this stunning piece of public conservation land, the safety of the many keen runners, walkers and lovers of our beautiful ngahere (forest) is of prime importance to us.”

Read related media releases:

• Hakarimata stairs closed by storm damage (20 April 2017)
• Flood damage closes Hakarimata Summit Track (7 April 2017)

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