Regular users of the Farm Forestry Trail will have noticed the upgrades taking place to the boardwalk structures. These upgrades are part of a wider plan for ensuring the trail has enduring public access. Part of that process involves nominating a “controlling authority”, and in our case that is Auckland Council. When we spoke with Auckland Council about it, they were very keen however it became obvious quite quickly that our “Farm Race” standard structures would not be adequate to them. As a result we now have a series of nice new structures.
We therefore embarked on what we called the 4 Bridges project. This project is basically remediating and bringing each structure to the standard agreed with AK Council. We have received funding support from Matakana Coast Trail Trust and guidance and project support from the AK Council Community Facilities people. The Walking Access Commission are guiding us through the process of establishing the easements and all the legal stuff. We have had a significant amount of professional help from Hutchinson Consulting and have used standard designs where they exist. We also have managed to re-use a significant portion of the materials from the original structures.
Kitset Bridges
All of the structures were built as kitsets and test assembled in my workshop. This eliminated any risk of treated sawdust entering Duck Creek and simplified the over all construction process. Any assembly issues were identified and sorted in a safe environment. All of the on site work then became little more than carrying the pre-fabricated parts, bolting things together and screwing down the decking. As each structure was completed the recovered timber was brought back to the workshop and then re-purposed for the next structure.
DCB Design 
Piles of parts. 
Sawdust in chip collector 
Measure twice.. 
Shelley installing hand rails
All of the labour except for the scaffolding has been volunteer labour. I continue to be amazed at the level of competency and motivation we have from our volunteer community. I must say thanks to Roger, Callum, Selwyn, Nyal, June, Shelley, Nick, Des and Al for your hard work and efforts. The fine people from Absolute Scaffolding made our large work area safe and productive. At the time of writing (with half a bridge to go) we have recorded over 220 hours of volunteer effort.
Absolute Scaffolding doing their magic 
Scaffolding up around the old bridge
I must go now and organise some work on the last structure. There is a large pile of pre-cut timber waiting to be walked to site and screwed down.
Gary Heaven