Walking Access debate returns again

[PeterVahry]

In 2003 the John Acland chaired group, who had reviewed the options for improving walking access, submitted to the Government a very inconclusive report.

A new group has been established under the same chairman to look at a further range of options for access and there are a collection of public meetings scheduled for around the country in May and June. It is very important that the point is made that access should not just be for walkers.

The NZDA have prepared a good appraisal that can be found at http://www.deerstalkers.org.nz/issues/p ... tation.htm

If you can get to a meeting please do and also everyone should put in a submission following the points raised by NZDA.

Don't leave it to someone else!

[DaveM]

Although I enjoy 4wding,hunting,mtbing etc, I for one will not support anything that will allow access onto private property where the owners are not completely happy.

[PeterVahry]

Dave, that's fine and you don't have to support every point raised by that outline. What we do need is a political awareness of the fact that there are other groups besides walkers who would like to use places like Queens Chain, paper roads and the various other lands tagged for recreation.

At one stage in the original review in 2003 there was a clear intention by the then Walking Access Group to tag paper roads as walking only! The NZFWDA representation managed to change that position fortunately.

We need to be at the meetings and raise those points and people need to write submissions based on what they would like to see happen!

If we got 500 submiters from 4x4 recreation it would shake that commission.

Peter