Taieri Road/ Waitawheta. Deliberate damage by 4 wheel drive
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:16 am
This track is partly an unformed legal road but is mostly on Department of Conservation land. NZFWD have a management agreement with DoC to manage this track and access to the Track is closed during the winter months. As a result of a complaint from Waikato Regional Council that the use of the track was causing silt to be discharged into the local stream, DoC and NZFWDA closed the track a little earlier than expected this year.
There is clear evidence of 4x4 vehicles accessing the track and causing more damage during its closure. Including using considerable force to force open the gate, inflicting considerable damage to the gate which is going to be costly to repair. The track itself has been damaged by being used during very wet months.
This behaviour is of major concern to NZFWDA and makes it very difficult for us to present four wheel drivers as a responsible group when dealing with regional councils and DoC Unfortunately this behaviour reflects on every responsible 4 wheel driver and could directly led to the permanent closure of the track to everyone.
I have a little information about who is responsible for the damage, but as yet have not been able to identify exactly who they are. If anyone has any information about this incident I would be very very keen to find out any information that may led us to those people who are damaging the reputation of us all for their own personal gain. You may even have been involved and are now feeling a little guilty and may like to contact me in confidence so that we can follow this up.
Its no good complaining about track closures when our owne are creating the problem.
It would be a shame to lose this iconic track for ever.
Again we ask for patience until we are able to reopen this track.
There is clear evidence of 4x4 vehicles accessing the track and causing more damage during its closure. Including using considerable force to force open the gate, inflicting considerable damage to the gate which is going to be costly to repair. The track itself has been damaged by being used during very wet months.
This behaviour is of major concern to NZFWDA and makes it very difficult for us to present four wheel drivers as a responsible group when dealing with regional councils and DoC Unfortunately this behaviour reflects on every responsible 4 wheel driver and could directly led to the permanent closure of the track to everyone.
I have a little information about who is responsible for the damage, but as yet have not been able to identify exactly who they are. If anyone has any information about this incident I would be very very keen to find out any information that may led us to those people who are damaging the reputation of us all for their own personal gain. You may even have been involved and are now feeling a little guilty and may like to contact me in confidence so that we can follow this up.
Its no good complaining about track closures when our owne are creating the problem.
It would be a shame to lose this iconic track for ever.
Again we ask for patience until we are able to reopen this track.