A $300,000 donation has been squandered and more than $600,000 would be needed, just to get the face of the Craggy Range back as it was. Graphic / NZME
A $300,000 donation has been squandered and more than $600,000 would be needed, just to get the face of the Craggy Range back as it was. Graphic / NZME
A lobby group for the Craggy Range Track says the funds spent building and later cleaning up the track has been money down the drain.
The comment comes in the wake of Hastings District Council's recent announcement it was seeking resource consent to remediate the track.
Spokesperson for the Te Mata Peak Peoples' Track Society, Xan Harding, said the council has had to spend thousands just to get back to square one.
"A $300,000 donation by Craggy Range has been destroyed and now the council is up to over $600,000 just to get us back to square one.
The controversial track will be cleaned up, with council spending $650,000 to get back to square one. Photo / Warren Buckland
However, he said the group was pleased council was fronting up to the mistakes it made by not notifying the public about the original consent application to build the track.
He said the failed communication destroyed what could have been a fantastic asset, however he felt there were a few upsides to the situation.
"Some of that money that council has spent already has gone into really, really useful and ground-breaking cultural work."
He said the whole saga of events also showed the community has an interest in the eastern side of Te Mata, not just the western side.
The society was looking at alternatives to ensure the eastern side of the track was accessible for those who wanted to use it for recreation, while also ensuring everyone was comfortable with whatever path or track ended up on the peak.
The group understood hapu, especially in Waimarama, wanted the current track fixed prior to looking at the future of the eastern side of Te Mata peak.
While the society had formed to protect the track, Harding said they would not be opposing the consent to have it remediated.
"We take the point of view that it's evolved into a broader conversation where we can represent the views of the majority of the public who were comfortable with the notion of access.
"But it has to be done very respectfully."
Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said council had been working with the Te Mata Track reference group, which has representatives from key stakeholders, and had been given a strong message from the community they are ready to move forward.
"The council wanted to show leadership to set a clear direction for our community and stakeholders in terms of the future of our beloved Te Mata Peak."
Ngāti Kahungunu and Craggy Range have both been approached for comment.
Council estimates obtaining resource consent will cost $50,000 and the remediation work will cost $150,000.
