Thanks for picking this up... there is still time to get comments off to DOC. There is an email address listed on their site
http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=46519The Land Rover Owners Club(Otago) have kindly offered a preliminary draft of their comments on the Oteake proposal as a general guide for creating your submission.
Oteake Conversation Park Proposal
Department of Conservation
PO Box 5244
Dunedin
Attention: Bruce Hill
Dear Sir
The Land Rover Owners Club (Otago) Inc wishes to submit its views on four wheel drive access to the Oteake Conversation Park Proposal.
Background of our Club
Our Club has been visiting the Central Otago area for 40 years. We have an annual camp over the Christmas - New Year period in the Lindis Tarras area and have built up over this time long term relationships with land owners in the wider Central Otago area. Having said that we camp over the Christmas period in the Lindas Tarras area our visits are not restricted to this time and we frequent the area over the whole year. The proposed Oteake Conversation Park area is one of the most popular and most visited areas by our Club Membership. Although our Club name reflects that we are a Landrover Club we cater for all makes and models of four wheel drive vehicles. One of the reasons we have not change our name is that we believe we are well known and respected in the community as responsible four wheel drivers.
We have a growing membership of 120 members comprising of a wide variety of ages backgrounds and professions. Amongst these members are family groups which swell our numbers considerably. Last year we celebrated our 40th Anniversary. We are the second oldest four wheel drive club in the country.
The steady increase in our membership numbers we believe is due to varied opportunities that we offer all Four Wheel Drivers, from family orientated fun runs and scenic trips to competitive “Mud Plug Rally’s” which we run on our 80 acres of land that our Club owns at Waitati just north of Dunedin. Our Driver Training facilities and Club Rooms are also at this site.
We have established a Driver Training Trust which is operated separately from the Club. The Trust has three trained off road instructors who can offer training with NCEA unit standards. We have provided training for Local Councils, the University, Government utilities and commercial organizations as well as the general public.
We are a socially responsible group providing for the general community in many ways such as providing services for Search and Rescue – Our Club members are part of the first response group, we are normally the first group that is called out in a Search and Rescue operation where man power and transport is required.
We provide Emergency Transport in adverse weather conditions – for hospital workers, rest home staff and Police. We also provide meals on wheels services when the usual drivers are unable to deliver them.
We adhere to Tread Lightly policies and have been members of that organisation for some years.
All our Members must before participating in any 4wd activity have their vehicles certified by our Safety and Mechanical officer and they must have completed our comprehensive driver training course which includes responsible driving techniques and DOC’s Code of Conduct for four wheel driving.
Our Views
We applaud the Departments initiative in setting up the proposed Park and it’s recognition that four wheel driving is a legitimate recreational activity in this Area.
We do however have serious concerns about the limited amount of access that is outlined in the proposal. We will highlight in our verbal submission to you, that there are many existing farm vehicle tracks which our Club has used for generations. If your proposal was to proceed in its present form this would severely limit the access that we have enjoyed.
Our view on access has always been straight forward and has not changed since we were asked to give a presentation at the “Wheels in the Backcountry” forum held in Dunedin last year and hosted by the Otago Conservation Board.
We quote from our presentation:
“There should be no exclusive access. Including governing authorities and their 4wd vehicles.
Public access should be described as ‘free public access’
The right of access however is not a right to roam - Vehicles should keep to formed tracks
There are plenty of tracks in the backcountry that have been used for years we don’t want the use of any more we are happy to use the tracks that are there.”
This land has been acquired by the Department through the Tenure Review process. The department has advocated that this process will result in greater public access, improved protection of cultural and heritage assets, and more effective ecological management.
We are very concerned about the amount of land coming under DOC management which the public has had vehicle access to, on existing roads/routes, or access via land owners permission for generations for recreational pursuits, and now face being excluded by closures or limited access by governing authorities. Your proposal does not provide access to four wheel drive opportunities that is available now through the good graces and high standards set by the current leaseholders. We would not like to see situations arrive that have happened in the pass where a promise to improve public access has been made and public access has been reduced under DOC Management. Birchwood Station on Ahuriri River is an example of this.
Many buildings and structures exist in this area they are part of our history and culture. We would wish these to be retained and maintained as they provided shelter for the recreational user as well as provided emergency shelter in an environment that can be unforgiving at times. Again we would not like to see huts removed which has happened in the Te Papanui Conservation Park. Those buildings provided shelter in an exposed area for all users. This has created a possible dangerous situation for all users of the Park who could be caught out in adverse weather.
The sheer size of the proposed Park and the existing network of farming tracks, which are generally in very good condition, make this area unique in New Zealand and perhaps the world. The vistas that are available and within reach of a four wheel drive vehicle are spectacular. By keeping these tracks open the Department will be providing access to a wide range of recreational users, not only four wheel drivers but trampers, hunters and Departmental Staff who will use these tracks for access to areas that would take days to cover by foot.
Your park proposal is meritorious if certain criteria are met and we would like to detail our concerns in a verbal submission to the Department.
We look forward to hearing from you.
