Tunnel Beach walking track reopening date unclear: Doc

The Department of Conservation (Doc) is seeking specialist engineering advice at Tunnel Beach where slips are keeping the popular walking track and beach closed.

Doc South Island operations director Aaron Fleming said the reopening date remained unclear.

The Tunnel Beach carpark and track remained closed after the storm at the start of this month, which flooded homes in South Dunedin and caused numerous widespread slips across the city.

Mr Fleming said in the days after the storm, the popular walk in Dunedin was fully closed because of about 10 large slips covering the width of the track.

He said yesterday in a statement to the Otago Daily Times: "We are currently seeking geotechnical engineering advice about re-stabilising areas of slumping before work begins.

"Once these details are finalised, we will have a better idea of the best method of remediation, the budget requirement, and the timeline."

Managing visitor safety was Doc’s "paramount concern".

The Tunnel Beach walk attracted 200,000 visitors a year.

"We understand the closure of a popular track is frustrating and we appreciate people’s patience as we work hard to reinstate this track."

Doc encouraged people to visit any of the "number of great walking tracks" elsewhere in the city, he said.

On October 10, Mr Fleming said Doc was "alarmed and disappointed" by the number of visitors who chose to ignore safety advice and walk the track despite the carpark being locked and several barriers and signs saying the track was closed. 

— APL