Inaction over closed track causes frustration; temporary fix planned

Daily Frasers Gully walking track user John Burton says it is ridiculous the track has been officially closed for nearly two years and the Dunedin City Council needs to find a simple and cost effective solution, so it can be reopened. Photos: Peter McIntosh

The Frasers Gully walking track has been closed by the Dunedin City Council since the July 2017 floods, after two large landslips made the track dangerous.

Despite the closure it is still well used by walkers, runners, school pupils and other residents.

One of those walkers, John Burton, made a submission to the council's 2019-20 annual plan asking the council to find a cost effective and simple solution for the track.

At the annual plan hearings yesterday Mr Burton said he was frustrated by the lack of action so contacted the council to ask what the plan was.

He was told geotechnical surveys had found the issue was likely to occur again and the council was considering moving the track to the other side of Frasers Stream.

It was ridiculous the council would consider spending a considerable amount of money moving the track, he said.

''I'm 83 and I use it almost every day. It's one of the most beautiful and well formed tracks in the city ... Moving it to the other side of the stream would take away everything that makes the walk fantastic.''

Late last year a ''community minded person'' cleared one of the slips and since then the track has been well used by the community, Mr Burton said.

Council infrastructure general manager Simon Drew said the council was exploring a temporary solution so the track could be formally reopened.

It would cost between $10,000 and $20,000 to clear the remaining slip, strengthen the track and make it more accessible, Mr Drew said.

As there was still a risk of slips during heavy rain, the council was likely to close the track during significant heavy rain, he said.