Fatal 4wd accident on Maungatapu Track (28 October)

[Monstaman]

Just ban 4wd'ers and open it up for bikes only. We could even do our own special maintenance, build a few little kickers here and there

I am a keen wheeler and reckon the Mangatapu track is a Sunday drive at best, I would term it scenic.

We as 4 wheelers actually do a lot of track work cleaning slips etc down here as we carry shovels etc, the farmers think it is great and everybody is happy.

As a keen Adv biker, 4 wheeler, MTBer and hunter I see this closure as a knee jerk reaction, this has happened to many places prior as the cotton wool brigade try to save us from ourselves and snip out anything that resembles fun.

Sometimes shit happens and we just have to deal with it and move on however the buracratic plonkers love to make sure their jobs are safe by making a meal of it.

[warewolf]

Update, for those who don't get The Nellie Mail:

Track still closed, options considered

[clint640]

So who do we contact at the council to get permission? We're heading down shortly, & while I've heard that there is alledgedly a highway that runs from Pelorus bridge to access Nelson I'd much rather use the normal route over the Maungatapu.

Maybe they should get the dumbasses that put the fibre optic cable down the middle of a 4x4 track to go back & put it somewhere more sensible.

Cheers
Clint

[warewolf]

Forgiveness is easier than permission

We haven't heard of any bikes being stopped at all, and there's been quite a bit of two-wheeled traffic.

[Padmei]

So is there a proper gate now or just the "rope". How closed is closed?

[Woodman]

Bloody 4wds, Reminds me of the damage they caused up big river at the old schoolhouse.

[Underground]

Interesting......having been through there on tuesday, it didn't seem too damaged to me.

I approached the Council offices for permision to access the Mangatapu track and was granted it subject to the (dam?) caretaker agreeing, he rides bikes as well so was almost enthusiastic! I had a pleasant wander through and can safely say it looked in good condition to me. Access from the other end is barely controlled at all with only a small sign saying the track was closed.
The reason for the closure given to me, was that it was due to the fatal accident and the ongoing investigations into that, and, as Colin says, there is a meeting today to make some substantive decision about it.

Yeah, its just all this fookin PC shite , no one wants to make a decision in case they end up liable for something .
And all we want to do is go for a bloody ride !
I find that once I put my helmet on and start the bike common sence prevails and I just go where the hell I like

[cooneyr]

Update, for those who don't get The Nellie Mail:

Track still closed, options considered

After reading that it seams that you lot need to get out there with a shovel, sover the services up again.

How exposed are the cables up there and where is it i.e. is it in an area easily repaired or is it on a steep section? Wanna go for a ride and take some pics Nordie?

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

The track is far less exposed/eroded than the first Dusty and no worse than the 3rd.

I've never seen a cable.

If there was something it'd be somewhere on the 1st pylon track (that's closed off with mounds of clay) as there's only 2 other bits that have a thick mud/clay base and have 4wd spoor.

But fill a steep track with clay/dirt and what do you expect when it rains?

[Crisis management]

You lot are beginning to sound like the off road arseholes around here that ride without permission everywhere and end up losing us access to off road tracks......how about a group approach to the council and sorting propper access out. I was impressed at how accomodating they were when approached and I would suggest that the grown up and polite way is to ask first.

Don't fuck up the off road access for everyone, you guys have it good down there now so make sure you hang onto it.

[Padmei]

Don't get too worked up about it crisis. The only one that knows if people go over is the caretaker & he's pretty laidback. Motrbikes over there do less damage than the natural forces of erosion & windfall.

[Skinny_Birdman]

You lot are beginning to sound like the off road arseholes around here that ride without permission everywhere and end up losing us access to off road tracks......how about a group approach to the council and sorting propper access out. I was impressed at how accomodating they were when approached and I would suggest that the grown up and polite way is to ask first.

Don't fuck up the off road access for everyone, you guys have it good down there now so make sure you hang onto it.

He said what I was thinking.

[NordieBoy]

The council has turned a blind eye and the caretaker tells you to just "go through, no problems".

We're waiting to hear what the "meeting of concerned parties" came up with.

[Crisis management]

The council has turned a blind eye and the caretaker tells you to just "go through, no problems".

As long as someone (the caretaker) has given permission then I'm happy, some of the replies here didn't seem to indicate that and those replies brought out my rant.

[Underground]

Its a public road and has been since the horse and cart days when it was the only road to NN from that side as far as I know.
It certainly isnt closed to bikes and personally I dont have an issue with the way its maintained ,even though its part of my regular route to and from town.
If a service provider wants the priveledge of cutting a cable into a steep public 4x4 road they should be out there maintaining their investment instead of sitting on their hands and putting signs up .