Round 12 Projects Update

Lyell Hut - Built in 1931. Failed engineering inspection in 2019 and due for replacement

​The Backcountry Trust board met in March and considered the applications for Round 12 grants. It was a diverse set of applications from mountain biking track maintenance projects, through to simple hut maintenance projects, through to the rebuilding of one of the classic South Island club huts. Fifteen new projects were approved as part of Round 12 totalling $192,000 in maintenance expenditure. Much of this expenditure is planned for the spring and hopefully will not be too affected by the current stop on work.

Some of the successful applicants include the Canterbury Mountaineering Club with their complete rebuild of Lyell Hut. The board made a significant contribution to the costs of this major project given this hut's importance to the wider recreation community. The board continued its support to some ongoing projects such as the Kaimai Ridgeway Track project, the Craigeburn Mountain Bike trail network and stage two of the restoration of Renata Hut in the Tararua's.