New Zealand / Environment

Te Mata track puts the brakes on new cycle path

16:58 pm on 10 April 2018

A controversial track up Te Mata Peak by Craggy Range Winery is hindering the development of a new cycle path around the peak, Hawke's Bay Regional Council says.

The Te Mata walking track. Photo: RNZ / Supplied

The council is set to acquire private land for a $340,000 cycleway around the foot of the peak's eastern face which will connect it to other cycle paths.

At the moment cyclists have to use a dangerous stretch of Waimarama Road known as the "mad mile".

But " recent controversy and confusion" surrounding the Craggy track was putting a brake on its plans, a council report said and provided challenges for progressing the Landscapes trail solution.

The council was now working to inform all affected parties, including iwi and Hastings District Council of their plans.

Craggy Range has promised to remove the track it created earlier this year following a backlash at the non-notified consent process.

Last week the winery's chief executive Michael Wilding told RNZ the remediation report was "progressing".

"I have been advised the report, including the completed peer review, is due to be completed in the second half of April," he said.

"Once we have the report, we will then seek legal advice as to the appropriate approach to resource consent."

A resource consent for the remediation work had not yet been applied for, Hasting Distict Council confirmed.