Pass shelter may be moved to new site

Press, 26 March 1980, Page 11

Pass shelter may be moved to new site

An alternative site for a shelter at Klondyke corner will be investigated by the Arthur’s Pass National Park Board.

Four young men were killed on December 3 when a mud slide engulfed their tent outside the shelter.

Until an investigation of an alternative site has been completed, the board will erect a warning notice at the shelter.

A report to the board by Dr C. O’Loughlin, of the Forest Research Institute, said the location of the Klondyke shelter was “not ideal” because it encouraged visitors to use the area as a camping ground.

“The removal of the shelter and the lavatories to a site less likely to suffer landslide disturbances should be implemented as soon as possible,” Dr O’Loughlin said. A second report, prepared by Mr N. Cave, who is studying for a Ph.D. in geolog} 7 , said the shelter area was no more unsafe than any other area in the park and was subject to similar environmental conditions. Rainfall such as that which occurred during December 2 and 3 last year made slips inevitable.

The fatal mud slide was caused by heavy rainfall and poor vegetation cover, Mr Cave said.

The chairman of the board

(Mr E. J. Davies) said that the sites of all shelters and huts in the park needed checking. The board approved a proposal to replace the AntiCrow Hut which was burnt down more than a year ago. In deciding to plan a new hut, the board accepted a suggestion that it contain 12 bunks and “a generous floor space” to allow for extra, emergency accommodation. V.H.F. system A $30,000 proposal to introduce a very high frequency (V.H.F.) radio system to the park next year was also accepted. The system would require a number of repeater stations which would be serviced each year in conjunction with the servicing already done by other agencies.

The repeater stations would be powered by solar storage batteries, and tests showed that the system would work well from all parts of the park.

i 'The board’s chief ranger (Mr E. F. I. Blackmore) said the V.H.F. system would also allow the use of handheld transmitters. The board agreed that the system would be a valuable management tool. The board decided to improve the “tatty” displays for visitors at the park headquarters at Arthur's Pass. ' “Just about everything in this display needs replacing,” Mr Blackmore said. Audi-visual unit The board will investigate the use of a $l2OO audio-vis-ual unit to assist in the educational display. Improvements could be made to the main display room even though alterations were being planned for the headquarters building. A proposed camping ground near Arthur’s Pass village will be investigated by the board's planning officer, who will report on the proposal at the next board meeting.