On the right track
BY SARAH CODDINGTON
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Hugh Willis is spending his own money to make one of his favourite bush walks a better place for the community.
The 75-year-old has paid out about $2000, brought in eight lorry-loads of gravel and laid it to restore a 1.7km Conservation Department track.
It runs from the end of Lonely Track Rd to Wright Rd in Albany and is home to many kauri trees as well as one of the largest kauri on the North Shore.
Three years ago the Torbay resident suggested to the Conservation Department the track needed to be restored.
The government department said it could not afford to fix it at that time.
"There was many muddy parts, almost impassable in the winter and the long track down at each end became incredibly slippery every time it rained," Mr Willis says.
Two years ago he was determined to fix the path and is about to finish it after much hard work.
"Once people get out and see this magnificent place they will think I must bring back my friends," says the former Westlake Boys High School maths teacher.
He says the biggest problem he faced was getting the gravel down in buckets. Some parts of the track were nearly a kilometre from the road.
Volunteers from community work groups and locals who were walking the track carried many buckets down for him.
He has also had cash donations from people who walk the track.
The Conservation Department is supplying the wood needed for about 100 steps but Mr Willis will build them himself.
The Conservation Department also paid $900 to help cover costs for the middle section of the track and paid for three lorry-loads of gravel.
Mr Willis has been willing to lend a hand to help restore other tracks in North Shore's bush walks and has put in more than 14km of tracks over 30 years.
If you would like to donate money towards the project, people can send a cheque Hugh Willis at 87 Deep Creek Rd, Waiake, 0630.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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