... Godley Head tracks closed until further notice...
There is currently no access to the tracks and old military installations at Godley Head on the Port Hills. Back in January some workers were digging trenches near the campsite at Godley Heads and came across some blue asbestos buried where one of the old buildings once stood. Asbestos was once widely used as a fire retardant and as a wrap material for pipes, water cylinders and heavy industrial equipment but has been banned from use since the mid 1980's.
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| The Godley Head Historic Reserve is currently closed... |
As you may know blue asbestos is the most dangerous form of this material and has direct causal effects for cancer, severe respiratory problems and a specific form of emphysema called asbestosis. It is super dangerous stuff and must be carefully removed by specialists wearing full protective safety gear. You don't want to breathe, ingest or even come into skin contact with the stuff as the fibers will easily become airborne and once inside your body there is no way to remove it.
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| Safety warning signs at Godley Head |
As a result the Department of Conservation have closed the whole of Godley Heads until they can decide what to do with the stuff. It is extremely expensive to remove especially from soil so it is not outside the realms of possibility that the whole area will be fenced off and closed to public access forever. They are currently sampling the soil and looking at the other buildings before making a decision on what to do.
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| Looking down on Godley Head from near Pt. 246 |
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| The old defense buildings at Godley Head, Port Hills |
Although you cannot access Godley Head itself there are still plenty of places to walk, mountain bike and run in the area. The Pilgrims Way Coastal Track is still open but there is a side track marked which avoids the contaminated area. There is the Breeze Col MTB Track and the Godley Loop Track can still be walked around Pt. 246 via the Breeze Bay Track and Breeze Col Tracks.
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| The trig point atop Pt. 246 at Godley Heads |
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| View of Godley Head from atop Pt. 246, Port Hills |
You can park near the Godley Head end of the Summit Road and walk up Pt. 246 to a series of old military Observation Posts. There are some spectacular views of Lyttleton Heads, Godley Head and Taylors Mistake from atop Pt. 246.
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| Observation Post 2 with Godley Head in the background |
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| Observation Post 2 looks out over Lyttleton Heads |
Despite the mortal risk from contact with asbestos there were still a surprising (...or not surprising...) number of numpties jumping over the fences and walking out to the defense installations. The idiots were even taking their children into this dangerous area by passing them over the top of the six foot high fences erected by DOC at the end of the Summit Road.
Right next to this sign...
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| Danger: Asbestos!!!! |
I have to say it...what the fuck is wrong with you?
Oh well...Darwinian selection will have at you....trust human nature to separate the genetic wheat from the chaff !
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| Idiots walking past the most dangerous area for asbestos contamination... |
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| More idiots passing children over the fences at Godley Heads... |
If you decide to go out to Godley Heads for a stroll or are walking the Pilgrims Way Coastal Walk please do not climb over the fences and walk asbestos fibers all over the surrounding area. I would like the site to reopen eventually but people ignoring the signs makes it much more likely it will close forever.
Do go climb up to the top of Pt. 246, walk the Breeze Bay Track or enjoy the views out to Pegasus Bay and Banks Peninsula. Or go find another track to walk...it is not like we are short of them here in Canterbury.
Thanks!!!
