CMS Reviews DOC request to NZFWDA

[madaz068]

Hi Everyone,

Al Morrison (Current Boss of DOC) has sent the following email to the NZFWDA. Could we please have replies and i will forward on within the next week. Also any comments would be helpful,



----- Original Message -----
From: Al Morrison
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:49 PM
Subject: RE: Dealing with 4WD Access in regional CMSs

Meetings have occurred in conservancies where interest has been shown by 4WD groups. There are some excellent examples of cooperation (e.g. a 4WD club uses and maintains 26 km of track in Wairarapa). The Department is doing its best to accommodate the needs of the 4WD community. The General managers Operations (Northern and Southern) would be interested to know if there is any particular area where the 4WD community wants greater engagement from the Department. I do not consider that there needs to be a round of meetings on the subject in each conservancy but believe it is occurring as the need arises. Al



Sent: Sunday, 26 August 2007 7:52 a.m.
To: Al Morrison DG DOC
Cc: Sue Paterson; Campbell Robertson; Christine Jacobson
Subject: Dealing with 4WD Access in regional CMSs

Al: at the DOC-NGO meeting last Thursday, we had a presentation on the West Coast CMS from Campbell Robertson from the Coast.

A major public issue with the Coast CMS is 4WD access to public conservation land. West Coast Conservancy has held a workshop with West Coast 4WD-ers, and is holding one with Canterbury 4WDers that use the West Coast.



It seems to my Council that it would be valuable for DOC to hold such workshops with those interested in 4WD-ing sustainably on public conservation land in every conservancy where these is significant 4WD-ing on public land, and 4WD access is an issue.



There is no reference to 4WD access in the 2005 General Policies, so no guidance on how 4WD recreation is going to be catered for. Recently a valuable workshop on 4WD use of Public Conservation Land was held in Dunedin, at the request of the Otago Conservation Board. Though I did not attend, those that did said it was a very useful meeting, and participants gained a much better understanding of the various stakeholders' positions and desires.



Consequently it was suggested by DOC staff that I write to you making the above request.



4WD-ing is increasing in popularity, and most 4WD clubs have safety and environmental codes, to minimise accident risk and damage to the environment. They have every right, given they are responsible, to 4WD on public conservation land, on appropriate vehicle trails. DOC staff do so.