The Matakana App
02 June 2021, 6:00 PM
Need an idea for a short walk between the showers this weekend? The Farm Forestry Trail located on Sandspit Road has had an upgrade.
The Farm Forestry Trail connects the Parsley Pot Cafe to the Hamilton Road bridge. It was inspired by the need to protect the Duck Creek catchment and to provide access to regenerating totara.
The trail is on private land and borders a working farm. Dogs are permitted on the trail but must remain under control at all times.
The new upgrades are part of a wider plan for ensuring the trail has enduring public access. When the Mahurangi Trail Trust spoke with Auckland Council about access, council was very keen. However, it became obvious quite quickly that the ‘farm race’ standard bridges would not be adequate.
The Matakana Coast Trail Trust is proud to be funding the work to bring this private trail to public walkway standard and to set in place easements to ensure that this access remains in perpetuity.
The project involved remediating and bringing four existing wooden bridges to the standard agreed with Auckland Council.
Hutchinson Consulting provided a significant amount of professional help. The project team has also received guidance and project support from the Auckland Council Community Facilities and the Walking Access Commission.
All of the timber components have been cut and fitted off site to eliminate the possibility of treated timber sawdust entering Duck Creek.
All of the labour, except for the scaffolding, has been by volunteers and more than 220 hours of work has been gifted.