Slips on the The Dun Mountain Trail may prevent vehicle access on it again, with the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust now looking at alternatives.
The sanctuary built its pest-proof fence below the trail last year which caused the trail to slip, along with other contributing factors, including heavy rainfall and inherently unstable land.
The trust was able to repair the trail for walkers and bikers but geotechnical experts have told the trust there isn’t enough bench left to reinstate the trail to accommodate vehicle access without a significant engineering solution such as boardwalk structure with pilings down to the bedrock.
The trust’s acting chair, Derek Shaw says they are now exploring options, including using the fence bench below the trail.
In an email passed on to Nelson Weekly, Derek Shaw, wrote: “The trust is exploring with council whether it might be the most practical solution in the future for motor vehicle access to the Third House area to be accommodated via the fence bench track rather than seeking to fully reinstate the Dun Mountain Walkway/Trail.”
The three options he outlines for a new route include from Four Corners to Third House, from Marsden Valley to Jenkins Hill to Third House or from the sanctuary’s visitor centre to Jenkins Hill to Third House.
Derek told Nelson Weekly that the trust has been in contact with parties that require occasional vehicle access to Third House to understand whether the fence track could meet their needs.
“Most have now indicated that they would prefer to use the fence track because it provides better track access,” he says.
“The reality is that our only solution at the slip site is to build an elaborate structure with deep piles that would not retain the historic nature of the Dun Mountain Railway formation. We know that this isn’t going to please the people who want to see it reinstated for vehicles either.”
Derek says the trust will continue to explore the alternatives and will be preparing a report for council.
