MountainBiking Otago Inc (MBO) has permission from the Dunedin City Council (DCC) to develop a multi-use climbing track at Signal Hill Reserve. Starting at the back of Logan Park School, the two-metre wide track zigs and zags for some six kilometres before emerging on the plateau near the monument. The track is designed so a person of moderate fitness can run, walk or ride up and back, while those with greater skill can use the other purpose-designed, down-hill tracks.
To make the track sustainable and useable in all weather conditions, it needs to be gravelled. Downer EDI have generously donated about 600 tons of 'road millings' to surface the track. Technically known as 'Recycled Ashpalt Products' and typically 95% aggregate and 5% tar-seal, these road millings would normally be reused in the construction industry, for farm roads or taken to a land fill. Using them on the track will save approximately $13,000 in material and transport costs.
MBO has completed an investigation into the use of this material, seeking guidance from the Otago Regional Council, Fish and Game, and the DCC's Transportation Operations and Water and Waste departments.
A sample of the local material has been tested by Fulton Hogan Laboratory. The test results indicate that there are no contaminants contained in this material that exceed what is already found in the environment.
An NZTA report (section 2.3 Detractions from RAP [Recycled Asphalt Products]) verifies that, as coal tar has not been used in asphalt in New Zealand for some 60 to 70 years, it is unlikely that any associated leachates would appear in any significant volume today.
MountainBiking Otago Inc will begin spreading this recycled resource from the top of the reserve and, once in the vicinity of Opoho Creek, will use crushed gravel.
