St James Management Plan

[mudbugga]

The new St James management plan is out

http://www.doc.govt.nz/publications/abo ... onal-plan/

http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents ... l-plan.pdf

"Vehicles
Motorised vehicles have the potential to do great damage to the biodiversity
values and affect the visitor experience by conflicting with other recreational
users who have arrived to experience solitude. They also pose a risk of fire,
weed importation and pollution. Controlling and limiting vehicle access will
minimise the threats.
There are existing 4WD tracks over both Maling and Edwards passes. The use
of the passes to gain further access into St James has been considered,
including minimising any potential adverse effects. Users who would benefit
from access over the passes as far as the Waiau River are hunters, fishers, 4WD
enthusiasts and water based activities such as rafting/kayaking and canoeing.
Action:
• Provide controlled vehicular access as far as the Waiau River via Maling and
Edwards passes, subject to road conditions, climate, fire threat and
biodiversity impacts"


Looks like vehicle access is ok into there now.

[mudbugga]

Well access from 1 June 2010

"Motorised access (including 4WD and motorbikes)
It is proposed that from 1 June 2010 open access will be permitted on formed
and marked tracks over the Maling and Edwards passes into the Waiau valley;
at the Waiau River there will be a clearly defined site where it is intended
vehicles must stop. Both routes could be subject to closures for vehicle access
because of environmental considerations (e.g. snow, floods, ice, and extreme
fire risks) and vehicle impacts on the track. The department reserves the right
to close access at any time and for any period.
The access will be managed to minimise potential conflicts with other
recreational users, whilst allowing for a wide and varied range of recreational
user to enjoy the St James area.
Action:
• Allow controlled vehicle access as far as the Waiau River via Maling Pass
and Edwards valley
• Monitor the physical and social effects of vehicle access
• Process any concession applications received as per the standard
concession processes and assess against all relevant statutory documents
and processes"

[tallsam66]

Maybe they should instead limit the number of trampers going there as it ruins the experience for us 4wders.???

Just another way at looking at things

[jdeburgh]

Yes, they certainly do not give equal consideration to those of us who cannot walk there or ride a bike!

I've seen plenty of damage and rubbish left by trampers ans cyclists as well.

...They really don't want anyone going there at all!

I did put a submission in but seems they ignored it!

John

[PeterVahry]

The crunch for St James is the statement by DOC that they will stop the legal roads. That's what needs to be stopped! Those legal roads form an existing network through that whole region and most do actually exist as practical routes, including across Molesworth etc.

The previous landowner disregarded the law by blocking access and DOC has continued that. They had indicated that they'd he reasonably generous to 4WD so I'd not put any pressure on over the legal roads. They've not been generous at all so we should not let them take the roads away too.

There is a tricky bit that will need watching ...1974 LGA – DOC and Local Councils jointly can close unformed roads across a reserve without public consultation.

This will mean that we should try to make the locals in Hurunui District aware that their Council might do a sneaky deal with DOC.

[hilux andy]

I went into st James over malings pass with my 4wd club last month.We were the first club to go in on a trial basis to see how behavior etc by a club went. We went as far as you can go and stopped for lunch, it was a lovely spot. It is not a hard trip and would be suitable for shineys. great place to go if you are into scenery and the isolation, not the place to go if you want real offroad stuff.

[PeterVahry]

Thanks for those comments and you are quite right, there is no 'hard' stuff on that route or on Edwards Pass (although on Edwards there is at least one reasonable hill that would get tricky when wet).

You say you went 'as far as you can go'.... any idea where that was? The farm road goes past Lake Guyon.

In a written statement, DOC are claiming that the legal roads were part of the purchase deal! I'll bet no one told the Hurunui District Council that their land had been sold.

[hilux andy]

We went as far as DOC would allow , which was down Malings pass out onto the flat beside the Waiau river. The biggest part of the trip was from Hanmer to lake tennyson.