Part of McTaggart Track to Change

Dunedin (Monday, 19 August 2013) – An alternative route will be formed for part of the McTaggart Track so people can continue to enjoy a popular part of the Otago Peninsula.

For many years there has been a public walking track linking Broad Bay, Company Bay and Larnach Castle. Known as the McTaggart Track, because the walking track comes off McTaggart Street, the track is popular with locals and tourists.

Dunedin City Council Transportation Policy Engineer Jon Visser says the public walking track was temporarily closed a couple of months ago and remains closed. The track passes through two private properties and one set of owners advised the DCC they no longer wanted members of the public using their private property to access the walking track. They asked for that part of the track to be closed permanently.

The other landowner is prepared to continue to have the walking track traverse his property.

Mr Visser says the DCC’s priority is to maintain a walking link across the Peninsula, preferably with the same start and end points as the existing track and a similar experience for users.

“We are trying to balance the rights of the private property owner and the expectations of the community.”

The McTaggart Track is widely advertised and promoted through brochures and websites and is also shown on topographical maps. The property owners have advised increased numbers of walkers are using the track.

The DCC has discussed the issues with the affected property owners and some track users. The change will involve diverting the track around the private property by extending it up the existing McTaggart Street road reserve and then crossing over on to the adjacent property, where it will re-join the existing track – an increase of about 200m.

New signs and markers will be installed along the track to show the way. The New Zealand Walking Access Commission is providing free signs and other costs will be met from existing DCC budgets. Until these works are complete, people are asked to refrain from using the section of track on private property, in accordance with the temporary signs that have been posted. As usual, the track will be closed during September and October for lambing.

ENDS

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