Letter to the Editor

Dear Sir,

re Round the Mountain Response

Well at last there has been some criticism of the proposal to promote an upgrade of the "Around the Mountain Circuit". It was getting embarrassing receiving so many supportive calls and letters. It's not a debate if everyone agrees!

The criticisms are important, and need addressing to prevent enthusiasm blinding us to the potential pitfalls. However, allow me the right of rebuttal.

[1] "More trampers will cause environmental damage" Any upgrade of substance would need to ensure that any environmentally fragile parts of the track are protected by boardwalks, bridges, steps etc.

[2] "More trampers would increase the risk of Giardia and biological agents entering our water supply" Again, it would be important -particularly given the fact that the track crosses catchment areas- that an upgrade includes improved toilets. Sealed, self composting varieties would be an improvement on the current "hole in the ground" type. But why all this worry when Hawera's drinking water is drawn from the Kapuni River after it has travelled through approximately 15 kilometres of farmland (and Eltham's Waingongora Stream intake is below about 10 kilometres of farmland)? With improved Council filtering efforts the "bouquet" has improved from "cowshed" to "hint of mud".

[3] "The Department of Conservation hasn't the financial resources for an upgrade and there is the danger of diverting resources from maintenance and upgrades of other tracks" The main concept in my proposal was that while DOC would not be able to afford an upgrade, WINZ was looking for community work to do and Councils, tourism groups etc were wanting to throw money at projects to attract tourists to Taranaki. If "third party" labour and revenue is made available DOC would consider an upgrade (but not to "Great Walk" standard) and this would hopefully have the effect of freeing more DOC resources for work on other tracks (particularly back-country access), as well as stoat & ferret control to save the kiwi!

[4] "The track is fine, and there is lots of information on the circuit and climbing the mountain" If the track is so good, and so well publicised, why are trampers avoiding the circuit, and why does Keith Anderson of Mountain House offer trampers transport to bypass "the embarrassment of the Mountain House to Waiaua Gorge Hut section". Any upgrade which expects to attract thousands of additional trampers (and potential climbers) will need to be promoted with a new circuit (and summit climb) description brochure which is free and widely distributed. It would need to include essential safety advice, mountain guide contact information and perhaps have German and Japanese versions. Dairylands and Hawera Information centres have nothing on the circuit free and displayed, although Mountain House has produced a neat little sheet which I'm sure Stuart Perry has well displayed by now.

What happens now? Most of the councils have placed the upgrade proposal on their agendas and the Taranaki Regional Council has decided to call a meeting of interested parties, so anyone with thoughts or concerns on the proposal should share them with their council representatives. A copy of the proposal, can be downloaded from the Internet at http://home.bitworks.co.nz/blayney/MtT/RTM.htm

Dr Keith Blayney