July 2020 - Update

Trail News and Maintenance
Flooding has closed the Hikuai Settlement Road twice since our last meeting. The Trail has come through pretty well and has been usable after each event once fallen trees, a couple of slips and debris have been cleared. Other damage seems to be confined to minor scouring on the inclined sections as before. The flooding hasn’t hindered the hardy trail riders from using it.
Predator Control
The following pests were eradicated over the reporting period:
3 x possum
10 x rats
1 x stoat
3 x Good Nature Kills
Trail Usage
Counter 2450 passes for the period Mid-May to Mid-June with 1400 passes over the first week of the school holidays.
Funding
The 2019 Tairua Trail and Tides Run and the 2020 Pauanui Half Marathon are current public fund raisers for the trail. Submissions to Local Body, National Authority and other donors / benefactors are underway. Firewood sales and public donations are ongoing.
Stage 3 Progress
A meeting with DoC to discuss Trail progress originally scheduled for July 16th was postponed due to flooding and has been rescheduled to take place on July 28th . Further meetings with all stakeholders are in the planning stages. Trail Stage 4 Some discussions regarding where and how the trail is to proceed from Hikuai to Tairua and beyond are underway. Contact with the Ngati Hei and the TCDC Community Board have been made. The Pinnacles Cycle Club is also in contact.
​Health & Safety:
Additional “Hidden Driveway” signs have been installed on a driveway where the trail crosses behind the newly installed safety barrier west of the Duck Creek Bridge.