Pleas Continue to Stay Off Walking Track

By John Freer

A renewed warning – stay away from the closed Cathedral Cove walking track or risk jeopardising an early December reopening.

Department of Conservation staff are reiterating their numerous requests for people to stay off the track while reopening work continues.

With good progress being made, DOC’s Regional Director, Tinaka Mearns, said staff and contractors continue to intercept dozens of visitors every day.

She said the next few weeks were crucial, with key infrastructure being installed, progress being reliant on both weather and visitors playing ball.

Work to reinstate access has reached a critical stage, with Mearns warning that reopening in the next few weeks will only be possible if people stay away and allow workers to complete construction.

“We’re continuing to make really good progress reinstating the walkway, having flown in prefabricated stairs and other building materials”, she said.

“DOC staff and contractors are still intercepting dozens of visitors a day, who have climbed around physical barriers and signage to attempt to access the track.

“Continuing to stop work and redirect people away from the site slows progress, while walking through the work site may result in someone being hurt.

“While we can’t control the weather, it’s really disheartening to see people deliberately putting the work and themselves at risk by accessing the closed track.

“The problem will become more acute as work progresses through narrow points of the landscape. Walkers will either have to go through active work sites or navigate highly hazardous cliff and rockfall sections.

“Thank you to the many people who are showing patience and good sense by staying away. To continue to help us please encourage others to do the same,” says Mearns.

Until the track is open, visitors can access the cove by boat or kayak.