Silver Peaks track to be made safer

More signs, marker poles and a new shelter are planned for the Silver Peaks as part of a three-stage plan to make the scenic reserve safer for trampers.

Calls for more signage were made after about five groups of trampers needed rescuing in five months last year.

The Department of Conservation surveyed the public online last year for their views and last week announced the changes it plans for the reserve.

Doc Otago area manager Robin Thomas said while some people wanted to see little or no development of tracks within the reserve, Doc had tried to strike a balance.

"The proposed work will provide a better defined and safer track than currently exists.

"All the other tracks and routes ... will not be changed."

The work would be done in three stages, beginning with better definition of the track from Mountain Rd to Jubilee Hut, with signs and orange marker poles to minimise the chance of walkers straying from the track, he said.

"The number of start points on the track will be reduced from three to one, on Mountain Rd, to minimise confusion and provide a focus for track information."

The next stage, redefining the section from Jubilee Hut to Mountain Rd via ABC Cave and Yellow Ridge, by clearing tussock and erecting orange markers, would begin later this year.

The track would be rerouted near The Gap, an area which had caused issues with trampers in the past.

A new hut or shelter donated by the Philip J. Cox Memorial Trust would replace Yellow Hut to provide emergency shelter if the Waikouaiti River became impassable, he said.

"At some point in the future, the option of a return route back to the starting point of the track will be explored on the true left of the Waikouaiti River."

Dunedin search and rescue head Senior Sergeant Brian Benn said some of the main issues, other than some trampers being totally unprepared, was the variety of tracks at main "decision points" and the "non-existent" track to the ABC cave.

The changes should improve safety for everyone, while leaving plenty of scope for trampers to have the "wilderness" experience they sought, he said.

"The plan seems to meet all needs."

Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club conservation and recreation advocacy officer David Barnes said the club had concerns that too many signs and markers would detract from the "weekend wilderness" experience for trampers who wanted a close-to-home tramp.

However, Doc was not planning to mark all areas, which was good, as was the decision to replace Yellow Hut.

"We're pleased about that."

He hoped the plans would keep trampers on the "straight and narrow", given so many more people were using the reserve since Jubilee Hut was installed.

Philip J. Cox Memorial Trust chairman Tony Guy said Mr Cox was very keen on getting people into the outdoors, but he also wanted them to do it safely, so this project fitted well with the trust's aspirations.

It was also planned to install panels in the hut to advise people about appropriate equipment for their tramp, he said.