Mt Victoria track network gets a spruce-up
NEWS RELEASE
18 December 2008
Mt Victoria track
network gets a spruce-up
Wellingtonians know
there’s no better place to get a breathtaking view over
the city than from the summit of Mt Victoria. Popular with
locals and tourists alike, the Mt Victoria lookout was
recently refurbished – and now the tracks around the
summit have been given a thorough sprucing up
too.
The Mt Victoria track network links the summit
to the central city, Hataitai, Newtown and Oriental Bay. A
great deal of upgrading and maintenance work has been
carried out on the network over recent months, particularly
on the Hataitai to City Walkway, which has been improved
along its entire length.
The Council’s
Environment Portfolio Leader, Councillor Celia Wade-Brown,
says the improvements will make for a safer and more
pleasant experience for people exploring the track
network.
“The Mt Victoria tracks are used
regularly by a wide range of people – from commuters and
residents seeking a shortcut to people out for a walk, run
or bike ride. The Town Belt brings nature close to the
doorstep of many Wellingtonians and it’s important we keep
it in good shape,” she says.
“Initially we
concentrated on improving the walking surface and stormwater
run-off, which will reduce the long-term cost of maintaining
the tracks. We’ve also removed a number of unnecessary
steps and many of the steps that remain have been upgraded
or replaced with steps that are easier to
use.”
Cr Wade-Brown says the Council has also
been working to improve the area for mountain bikers. A new
section of track around the city side of Mt Alfred has been
installed with the assistance of the Wild Wellington
mountain bike event organisers and next year a new mountain
bike skills area will be developed. Two circular mountain
bike routes – one easy and one intermediate – will also
be highlighted with track markers and on
mapboards.
“Existing map boards are being updated
and a number of new interpretation and direction signs have
been installed to help guide people unfamiliar with the
area. We hope these will be particularly useful for people
who are new to the city. We’re also keen to encourage more
people to use the track network for their daily commute –
it only takes 40 minutes to walk from Hataitai to Civic
Square and it’s a really healthy alternative to taking the
car.”
Improvement work will continue next year on
parts of the Southern Walkway and the Newtown to Hataitai
tracks. Some existing tracks will be named and a number of
additional interpretation signs will be installed –
including one at the site of the old Te Akatarewa Pā on Mt
Alfred about the Māori and early settler history of the
area. Work is due to start this month on the area adjacent
to the new toilet below the Mt Victoria lookout to ensure it
no longer gets muddy after heavy
rainfall.
ends