Proposed Track Closures in Lake Daniels area

[L-andy]

Don’t shoot – I’m just the messenger, and its not the tracks that we all know and love into Thompsons Flat

Got an email last night from NZFWDA Southern Zone Public Relations Officer with the attached map.



Apparently DOC are looking at closing the “roads” in dotted purple. I wasn’t aware that much of this was even classed as road. In fact the track up the west side of the Alfred is only a walking track with a swing bridge at the Maruia end so good luck driving up there!

The piece marked from the southern end of Thompsons Flat to the North end of the lake is “technically” drivable but is pretty soft and I always understood that vehicle access ended at the southern end of Thompsons Flat. Whenever I have been there we have walked to the lake as there are 100 other mud holes on the flat to play in (although when I was last there in march this year it looked like some quads had been through and ripped it up).

The only bit I have driven a couple of times is the track from the Maruia up the east side of the Alfred to Pell Stream there is an old hut which was built for a gold claim in there. This as far as I’m aware is the only proper piece of 4wd track affected but I may be wrong.

NZFWDA need reasons why these tracks should not be closed to present to DOC. If anyone has any better info or has used these tracks in recent years and/or has reasons for them not to be closed please email:


John McDonald (NZFWDA Southern Zone Public Relations Officer) szpro@nzfwda.org.nz

Cheers

Andy

[Bulletproof]

There used to be a road many years ago but is now just a walking track so it won't affect 4 wheel drive access.

Cheers richard

[OVERSZ]

Has anyone used the track on the true left of the Alfred River through to Pell Stream. I think there is a hut there. I know my Dad used the track about 40 years ago in a mates Land Rover. That was to go hunting. Doubt that Trampers would use it as its only about 2 hours carpark to Lake Daniels.

There was once a track from Thompsons Flat all the way over to the lake. Part of the sale agreement of Thompsons Flat to the NZ Wilderness Co was no vehicles beyond the boundary. Looks like that might also be included in the inquiry DOC are making to the Buller Council.

Cheers

Graham

[fisho]

The track from marble hill to the pell stream is still used regularly and is an easy drive. There is still an active gold claim in the pell stream alfred confluence and another one further upstream. The guy that owns the bottom claim has been maintaining the bottom hut and it is open for public use .Doc proposed removing the hut a couple of years ago and i attended a meeting with the west coast conservation board along with others to push for the hut to remain. the agreement was that the track and hut would remain as is .I will make further enquiries about this as I asked to be informed if there was any change.
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