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DOC rangers on the West Coast have spent recent weeks clearing tracks after late-October storms caused widespread damage – and more issues are still being discovered.
Most of the impact is in the DOC Greymouth district, where staff have been diverted from routine maintenance to focus on storm recovery. Work has included bridge inspections, chainsaw crews clearing windfalls, and blasting to remove large rocks.
Completed repairs in the Greymouth district include the Point Elizabeth Walkway, Velenski Walk at Moana, Arnold Dam Walk, the Paparoa Track – Porarari Gorge section, Pike29 Memorial Track, Lake Daniell Track, and Murray Creek Track in Reefton.
DOC principal ranger Sam Symonds says that while progress has been steady, fresh reports continue to come in. The most recent is on the Waitahu Track north of Reefton, where Sam says “nature ate our track”.
The four-wheel-drive road and track up the Waitahu River have now been closed due to multiple windfalls, slips, and significant erosion.
“Unfortunately, this type of damage is increasing as severe weather events become more frequent,” Sam says.
He says DOC is assessing options to restore access to the wider Waitahu River track network, but the damage is extensive and repairs will be complex.
Visitors are urged to report any further track damage via: 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468), take extra care, and be prepared to turn back even if there are no active alerts online.
