For the past three years, DOC has provided the Backcountry Trust with $450,000 annually for volunteer projects. In the year to May 31 2022, this included maintenance on 33 huts and 240km of track that are not on DOC’s schedule.

But last year DOC told the trust it was reviewing the funding arrangement.

In response to questions from Wilderness, DOC’s West Coast operations director, Mark Davies confirmed the funding will stop in June 2023, but said the department was “absolutely committed to continuing to support the Backcountry Trust”.

Davies said DOC wanted a long-term partnership with the trust through a detailed business case. “While that business case is being progressed, the Backcountry Trust is being encouraged to apply to the DOC Community Fund for interim funding for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.”

Trust chairperson Kevin O’Connor said he was relieved to hear DOC is committed to supporting the organisation. 

Although the trust recently stopped awarding grants for volunteer projects, it is still  accepting applications and will consider these when funding is secured for 2023/24.

A decision on the trust’s application to the Community Fund is expected in February.