Good progess on pest proof fence at Waimarama Santuary

Good progress on the construction of the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary pest proof fence will see fence posts being installed after the Christmas break.

Sanctuary General Manager Hudson Dodd says the weather has been kind, and preparation of the bench platform for the 14km fence is going smoothly.

“Since our ground-breaking ceremony at the end of September there has been some real progress, which is a fantastic thing to see after a whole decade of planning,” he said. “It’s really heartening for our volunteers, members and for all those who have supported this project financially and in so many other ways.”

Dodd said in the next stage of construction the Dun Mountain Track will be temporarily closed during the working week, and that the project team has worked closely with landowner Nelson City Council to keep the closure to a minimum.

“The track will be open from 5pm in the evenings, all weekend and for three weeks over the Christmas holiday, which leaves cyclists and walkers with some good options over the summer to enjoy the historic track,” he said. “We’ve worked closely with the mountain bike fraternity and we’re really pleased at the way they’re on board with our project and the need for temporary track closures over the coming months.

Dodd said this applied particularly to the Tasman Nelson Cycle Trails Trust who market the Dun Mountain Track year round as an national and international attraction for cyclists.

“Fortunately there are some other great options for people visiting Nelson on a biking holiday and there are still the evenings and weekends for them to experience the Dun Mountain.”

The Dun Mountain Track will be temporarily closed Monday-Friday, 7am – 5:pm from approximately 24 November 2014 to mid-March 2015 (with the exception of Christmas break: 20 December – 11 January).

When the sanctuary is enclosed the Dun Mountain Track will be outside the fence, but the closure during construction is needed for safety reasons to ensure the public is kept well clear of heavy machinery and tree work.

The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary is a community based conservation initiative to enclose 715ha with a pest proof fence. The project twill have huge biodiversity benefits as well as becoming a major visitor attraction for Nelson and an important educational facility for the community. More info at www.brooksanctuary.org

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