Structure safety in spotlight

Tucky's Bridge on the Tarawera Falls to Lake Tarawera Track failed load capacity assessments. Photo/File

Attractions in the Rotorua area are among hundreds of tracks, huts and structures identified as not being up to standard nationwide.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry recently released lists of Department of Conservation (DOC) tracks, structures and huts which have either been closed or are not up to standard, including some in Rotorua.

But a local Department of Conservation spokeswoman says there are no structures in Rotorua that have failed capacity assessments, while another spokesman says the department "stood by the safety of its structures and the thoroughness of its inspections".

Structures listed as having failed load capacity assessments in Rotorua at the time the lists were compiled included Te Kopia Boardwalk at Te Kopia Scenic Reserve near Reporoa.

A bridge, a barrier and a staircase at Twin Streams on the Tarawera Trail also failed as did Tucky's Bridge on the Tarawera Falls to Lake Tarawera Track and Wairua Bridge on the Tarawera Trail.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

Te Kopia Viewing Platform at Te Kopia Scenic Reserve failed a barrier assessment.

DOC ranger Caraline Abbott said there were no structures in Rotorua that had failed capacity assessments, but "the tools used to record details against structures may have indicated a shortfalling while official records were being transitioned into the system".

"Where public safety is compromised steps will be taken to alert the public and tracks or structures closed if necessary," she said.

DOC director general of operations Mike Slater said the department had a "very detailed and thorough system for checking and maintaining its more than 13,500 structures and huts to ensure they are safe for public use".

"DOC has a team of trained staff and qualified engineers which inspect all bridges, platforms and huts regularly and it prioritises significant maintenance work for prompt attention.

"The department stands by the safety of its structures and the thoroughness of its inspections," he said.

Green Party conservation spokesman Kevin Hague said the numbers today would differ from when the lists were provided. They were a snapshot of a moving picture.

He said every region would be able to look at the list and see local problems.

"New Zealanders have to ask themselves, is it acceptable for that proportion of our tracks, and our huts and our structures and our species to not be meeting the standards that have been set for them? I suspect the answer is no."