DOC CMS drafts for Northland, Auckland and Waikato

[PeterVahry]

All three CMS are released at once and submissions close 15 March 2013.
Anyone can comment
If vehicle use is not recognised in a CMS, it is not allowed in that conservancy!

http://www.nzfwda.org.nz/news/300

[PeterVahry]

A friendly mob that drafted the Northland CMS have outlined their policies as follows. The section in 'bold' is my highlight to show the ignorance of the authors... DoC do not control unformed legal roads / paper roads!

There's a lot of work needed to do to try and shift the DoC bias.

Part Three—Specific policy requirements for Northland Conservancy

Vehicles
Motorised vehicle use is not generally allowed off formed roads on public conservation land. The use of vehicles, including mountain bikes, falls within the spectrum of recreation opportunities allowed for on public conservation lands and waters. Management of such activities must protect the values for which such lands and waters are held.

Given the fragile nature of many of Northland’s conservation lands, opportunities for the recreational use of motorised four-wheel drive vehicles, all terrain vehicles and motorbikes are limited. The general rule in Northland Conservancy is that the use of vehicles should be restricted to tracks formed for vehicle use, roads and designated areas, which may
include car parks, campgrounds and specific mountain bike tracks.

Requests for off-road use and vehicle use on unformed paper roads on public conservation land are often received; however, in most cases, this is incompatible with the use or classification of the area and its natural and historic values.

Where opportunities for off-road vehicle use are identified, the careful management of all recreational initiatives offered is paramount, with management strategies addressing protection and overall harmonious and safe use by all.

Northland’s sand dunes are renowned for their natural, cultural, historic and recreational values. Vehicle use on dunes administered by the Department will generally not be allowed except at Te Paki Stream, where there is established historic vehicle access onto Ninety Mile Beach (Te Oneroa a Tohe). On other dune areas, the Department will work with agencies and the community to limit vehicle use to designated accessways and to
manage conflicts with natural, recreational, cultural and historic values.

Biosecurity risks may be associated with vehicle use through the transportation of water, soil, mud and animal or plant materials, e.g. spreading weeds, Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) and PTA (kauri dieback disease). At vulnerable sites, it may be necessary to restrict
vehicle access to reduce the risk of contamination and new incursions.

In 2007, bylaws under the Reserves Act 1977 were established in some areas to help manage some of our most popular reserves better—to help ensure that everyone who uses them and lives near them can continue to enjoy them. The bylaws generally prohibit vehicles in a range of highly used and popular recreation scenic and historic reserves unless the person
is lawfully authorised, there is a sign indicating that it is allowed or there is permanently surfaced area suitable for vehicle access. The intention is to extend the bylaws’ coverage to all reserves in Northland and to establish regulations for lands managed under the Conservation Act 1987.

[PeterVahry]

The last few hours to put forward your submissions on these CMS's They close 4.30 pm Friday 15