DOC to review 4x4 visitor pamphlets

[PeterVahry]

http://www.nzfwda.org.nz/news/176

The Department of Conservation are planning to review their 4x4 pamphlets. They are working with the NZFWDA on this, but the NZFWDA are also interested to hear of any corrections or additions from the 4x4 community in general.

Let's see if we can help them get it right this time!

[DieselBoy]

I notice the Waitawheta track is not mentioned???

Is that not on DOC land??

[PeterVahry]

Part of that route is on DOC land and part is unformed legal road. It's actually in the BoP conservancy and we may need to wait to see what their CMS says about 4WD use. All the public hearings etc on the BoP CMS are completed and DOC have to have the final version approved by the NZ Conservation Authority.

The other question is... do we want every route to be available to the general public, or are there some that are likely to be just too difficult to manage 4x4 use of? If such a route is listed and Joe Public keeps getting stuck etc then there may be just negative publicity.

My opinion is to have DOC list only those 4x4 routes that will tolerate use by the general public.

Peter

[DieselBoy]

The other question is... do we want every route to be available to the general public, or are there some that are likely to be just too difficult to manage 4x4 use of? If such a route is listed and Joe Public keeps getting stuck etc then there may be just negative publicity.

My opinion is to have DOC list only those 4x4 routes that will tolerate use by the general public.

Peter

Thats a very good point.

Provided that it wouldn't come back to bite us in the future as it has never been document as being a vehicle route??

[Bubba]

The other question is... do we want every route to be available to the general public, or are there some that are likely to be just too difficult to manage 4x4 use of? If such a route is listed and Joe Public keeps getting stuck etc then there may be just negative publicity.

My opinion is to have DOC list only those 4x4 routes that will tolerate use by the general public.

Peter

Thats a very good point.

Provided that it wouldn't come back to bite us in the future as it has never been document as being a vehicle route??

I agree with Diesel, good idea but how can we be sure that they will honour what they say now, in 5, 10 years

[PeterVahry]

If a DOC CMS includes reference to a 4x4 route or makes allowance for such places in the future then that's the best we can do. It will be up to four wheelers to keep to our side of the deals too and keep 4x4 routes sustainable. That's why it may not be wise to put every trail as being for the general public. It's going to take us and any partners like DOC, a while to define standards and conform to them.