Local offenders support ‘a cycle experience like no other’

27 October 2015

Local offenders on Community Work sentences have been helping build the West Coast Wilderness Trail, the last section of which opened on 24 October.

The offenders have been working with the Kumara Residents’ Trust and the Westland Regional Environmental Network Incorporated Society to help form the trail.

“The bike track is a great project for local people on Community Work sentences,” says Corrections West Coast Service Manager Kelly Hill. “This track is something that we, as West Coasters and New Zealanders, can be really proud of.

“To be able to contribute to this project and therefore to our local economy is really important to the Department and to the offenders involved.”

The trail runs between Greymouth and Ross, weaving through ancient rainforests, along glacial rivers, around lakes and wetlands. Cyclists get to see some true West Coast scenery and it is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most beautiful and accessible cycling tracks.

Offenders from Greymouth, Hokitika, Ross and further south have been involved with the project for more than six years, with up to 20 offenders on the project at any time.

“It has been amazing to be involved in this project from the early days,” says John*, one of the offenders who has been working on the project. He was looking forward to the opening and is proud of the work the Community Work team has been doing.

“It has been really important to me to be involved in work that is both constructive and environmentally valuable to our community,” he says.

“We are all really proud of our contribution and the part we have played in promoting eco-tourism on the West Coast. A project like this is good for tourism because visitors get to see and feel the natural environment.”

Community Development Officer for Kumara and Ross Town, Mike Keenan agrees:

“This is a substantial and important project for local tourism and signals progress for the Coast.

“Having the support of Corrections and the offenders they manage has made a real difference to this project. Basically, without them we would be buggered.”

Offenders on Community Work started off scrub and gorse cutting and moving dirt. Five years on, the focus has moved to planting trees, landscaping, gardening, weed removal, and general beautification and maintenance work.

Alongside a group of keen local helpers, the offenders have recently helped with planting trees and clearing scrub along the new Ross section of the cycle trail; planting more than 2000 trees in two weeks.

“Offenders are a great support for small communities like Kumara and Ross town in getting some work done,” says Mike.

With the final section of the track opening on the 24 October, there is still more development and maintenance work to do.

”We are very proud to have contributed to this project and added value for the community,” says Probation Officer Justine Martyn.

“The Kumara Residents’ Trust and the Westland Regional Environmental Network are great organisations to work with. They are very supportive of the work of Corrections, passionate about their community and the tourism opportunity this project offers. They are also very generous with their mentoring and teaching of new skills to offenders.

“The work the offenders are doing and their engagement with these passionate and committed people is helping offenders to reengage with the community and see that they can be involved in something that makes a positive difference in their community.”

This is an important community project and a great example of West Coast spirit.

Corrections is committed to reducing re-offending by 25% by 2017. Through their sentence, people on Community Work sentences undertake projects which contribute to their local community and access rehabilitative and educational programmes to help them gain employment and learn basic living skills.

ENDS

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