The ‘official unofficial’ opening of the new Globe Hill Track on Saturday 20 September went down a storm with the community, with 35 cyclists, runners and walkers turning up to be the first on the 11km (one way) multipurpose Grade 3 track which joins Reefton to the rehabilitated and restored Globe Progress mine site. As well as the Globe Hill Track, there are also three new tracks at the mine site; Fossickers Lake Track, Tamatahia Te Whenua Track and Union Creek Track.
The Globe Hill Track and Globe Progress Mine tracks and visitor facilities, including a shelter, interpretation panels telling the story of the site, and toilets, have been developed by OceanaGold in conjunction with Ngati Waewae and the Department of Conservation.
Kit Wilson from OceanaGold says the event was a milestone for the team, and they were pleased with the turnout. “For us this is the beginning of the end of a ten year project,” he says. “When we closed the mine in 2016 we knew we had a huge amount of work ahead of us. To get to today with the first of the handover events is absolutely awesome, and to have local people attend as well as people from Nelson, Tauranga and Christchurch is just spectacular. It tells us that the track is going to be really popular and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Part of OceanaGold’s agreement with DOC to access the area required the company to ensure the site was restored once operations concluded in 2016. As well as removing mine infrastructure and landscaping, the area has been extensively replanted with plants grown from seed taken from the area.
DOC Greymouth District Operations Manager Chris Hickford is looking forward to the site and tracks being part of the wider recreational assets and providing Reefton with a great experience right on the doorstep. “It’s an opportunity for visitors to come and experience the mine site through the track network, as well as getting out into nature,” he says. “It’s a big thank you to the Reefton locals who turned up to experience and try out the track, and thanks to the partnership we’ve had with OceanaGold, Ngati Waewae, Buller District Council and others to make this visitor experience come alive.”
There were plenty of smiles from trail users along the trails and as they got to the mine site and enjoyed the facilities.
Jo Newburry is interim chair of the newly-formed Reefton Trail Collective, a group set up to enrich Reefton by developing, maintaining, and promoting a trail network that inspires recreation, welcomes visitors, and fosters local pride. “They’ve done a fantastic job, it’s brilliant to see it open,” she says. “It’s an amazing track and I look forward to riding it many times.”
The Official opening will be at the end of November.