Huts being removed

DoC announced at its 'user group' meeting for tramping clubs on Wednesday that it intended removing nine huts and bivs by the end of October. These are:

• Mingha Biv
• Ranger Biv (derelict huh? - see these recent pics)
• Waterfall Biv
• Thompson Biv
• Upper Cox Biv
• Top Cox Hut
• Nigger Bush Biv
• Townshend Hut
• Possumers Hut

It's difficult not to believe there's some method in the haste. It was the same with No. 1 Hut at Lake Taylor and Greenlaw Hut up the Waimak. In both those cases DoC rushed to pre-empt the counter proposals it knew were being developed.