KEY POINTS:
Bush tracks in the Waitakere Ranges are getting run down, prompting a major review of their maintenance.
All 243km of bush tracks through the ranges will be walked by Auckland Regional Council staff to assess their condition in order to improve their management.
Staff have reported to the council's parks and heritage committee that there had been public concern about the lack of maintenance.
A focus on vegetation clearance meant less attention had been paid to the track surfaces. People also wanted more information about how to make use of the regional park and the characteristics of the various walks.
The report estimated there had been about 43,000 people on the tracks in the six months from August last to this January.
A full survey of the tracks' condition and maintenance requirements and hazards had been initiated to develop a long-term operational plan.
The report also mentioned potential safety issues in some locations.
Councillor Sandra Coney, chairwoman of the parks and heritage committee, said she did not think there were major safety risks.
"If the boxed steps lost their soil people could potentially twist their ankle but most would just walk round them."
The public feedback about the tracks had come out of consultations on a regional parks management plan.
Many of the problems related to keeping drainage systems clear of debris so water could run off the paths instead of causing boggy ground.
Walkers didn't like the way gravel was dumped on such areas to resolve the poor drainage as it was not very natural.
"Trampers hate it under their feet."
The poor drainage could also lead to the scouring of the bush which affected the canopy.
The track system had been built up over the decades for almost 100 years and "so it is regarded as an asset that needs to be properly maintained".
The council was trying to find out how much work needed to be done so all the tracks would have to be walked.
The walks were not just used by daytrippers but by "back country hard core trampers", some of whom stayed overnight at camp sites.
There were also many foreign tourists using the walks like the Kitekite Falls Track at Piha.
