A section of the Motatapu Track has been rerouted to avoid a large, slow-moving slip, DOC says.
The track, a historic route linking Wānaka and Arrowtown and crossing private land, is part of the Te Araroa Trail and is popular with hikers and trail runners.
DOC Operations Manager Charlie Sklenar says a recent routine assessment of the 400 m slip, between Highland Creek Hut and Roses Hut, found it was at risk of becoming larger during storm events.
We've been monitoring the slow-moving slip for a number of years. Safety is our highest priority, so when a recent reassessment found it was at risk of further movement, potentially damaging the track, we made the call to close this section and reroute it to a safer location, Charlie says.
DOC staff had been working with the landowner to identify a new path, and a team of rangers was deployed to the remote spot to complete the work last week.
The track was rerouted 350 m, across 180 m of elevation. Marker posts have been moved to the new section, vegetation planted across old entrance points, and directional signs at each end of the re-route are in place to ensure users can easily follow the new route.
"Judging by the amount of foot traffic while staff were undertaking the work, it won't be long before this new section is well and truly worn in," says Charlie.
"It's great to have the new route in place for people out naturing in this iconic Central Otago spot."
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