Mamaku, Leslie Road - Intentionally Damaged

[obansam]

I checked out Leslie road yesterday at the Mamaku end as I had heard the gate was locked. This road goes from Mamaku, Cecil Road down to Whites Road towards Putaruru, while this isn't a hard 4WD road, it is (was) quite a nice drive, and the Mamaku end does require some decent tyres. There is a huge the amount of illegally dumped rubbish up there which is disappointing to see.

The access gate at the end of Cecil Road is welded shut, 100m in a tree is blocking the road with some small rocks. Another 200m in another couple of trees have intentionally been placed across the road and trench has been dug behind the trees, about a meter deep.....the road is impassable

Keep in mind Leslie Road is a public road and this willful damage is surely illegal. It's a shame to see this sort of damage is still happening (probably by the forestry company) after the Rotorua Council has already dealt with Endean Road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7Sqg46L ... YCYkt2l96A

[PeterVahry]

Is someone able to identify which Council covers that Leslie Rd area? Once that's confirmed, then perhaps a few letters drawing attention to the illegal obstacles and damage can be written.

[obansam]

Is someone able to identify which Council covers that Leslie Rd area? Once that's confirmed, then perhaps a few letters drawing attention to the illegal obstacles and damage can be written.

Peter,

South Waikato District Council are responsible for this road. A submission to assist with access to this road has recently been lodged with John Gibbs from WAMS also.

Cheers

[klompy]

They are probaly trying to stop the dumping of rubbish,but for less work than it took to vandalize the road they could of cleaned the rubbish up.If rubbish is the issue I would be happy to assist with a working bee to clean it up.More traffic thru these areas would meam more eyes to help identify these mongrels.

[3VILC]

One day these people will realise that for the amount of fuel and effort they've wasted taking thier rubbish out to the middle of nowhere they could've just payed to take it to the dump. Theres a little short track around here up to an old reservoir, admittedly its not meant to be driven (tho it is a vehicle track and paper road long past where you can drive to), Ive done it simply because its a nice spot to have a picnic on a nice day, it causes no damage the track is mostly pumice. Some of the fords are quite steep with large boulders, yet people still seem to find a way to get up there and dump rubbish, drive off the track and make huge bogs, and damage the outlet pipe from the dam where it is exposed in places (which does still feed some of the farms down the hill)

[obansam]

took a mate up for a look and the rubbish is even worse, bloody shameful
but whoever decided it was a good idea to use the area as a dump has left their calling card....anyone recognise it?

[Crash bandicoot]

Think i have mentioned this before, but in the Rangitikei on the more secluded access roads to the river(and after a spate of ill equipped 4wds getting stuck in the river) the council/horizons has put in big 4wd obstacles such as rocks steep sided humps water filled holes with big drops down into the hole's then back up again. It is still public access though.

it has stopped the F**kwits dumping, and from driving in area's damaging sensitive wildlife/plants and erosion protection seedlings as you need good ground clearance and mud tyres most of the year around.

It has worked, there is no longer any rubbish or intentional damage.

[klompy]

May be a hidden camera,why deter them when you can catch them,probaly nothing you could do if you caught them.

[obansam]

Rotorua district council have replied to my emails and promised they will clean up the area. If anyone is up that way it would be great to have some feedback to see if the clean-up has happened.

With regard to Leslie Road been intentionally damaged and blocked by the forestry Rotorua council have confirmed that South Waikato District Council are responsible for this road. To date the Waikato council has not replied to any emails. At the very least it's disappointing that elected officials ignore this blatant vandalism of public property. I'm sure if a sealed road was damaged in this way they would act promptly.

[Tonkatoy.]

Rotorua district council have replied to my emails and promised they will clean up the area. If anyone is up that way it would be great to have some feedback to see if the clean-up has happened.

With regard to Leslie Road been intentionally damaged and blocked by the forestry Rotorua council have confirmed that South Waikato District Council are responsible for this road. To date the Waikato council has not replied to any emails. At the very least it's disappointing that elected officials ignore this blatant vandalism of public property. I'm sure if a sealed road was damaged in this way they would act promptly.

Good work - Keep us posted

[catalystracing]

took a mate up for a look and the rubbish is even worse, bloody shameful
but whoever decided it was a good idea to use the area as a dump has left their calling card....anyone recognise it?

YOZA is obviously a greenie, wanting to Free The Penguins

[Bubba]

took a mate up for a look and the rubbish is even worse, bloody shameful
but whoever decided it was a good idea to use the area as a dump has left their calling card....anyone recognise it?

YOZA is obviously a greenie, wanting to Free The Penguins

As quoted from a Police 10/7/ Highway Patrol show "those boys are from Feilding because "Feildings The Place"

[obansam]

The Rotorua council have cleaned up the mess at the end of Cecil Road, although it took a while for them to even agree that they were responsible for that road! But to their credit once they realised it was in their patch they were onto it straight away.

As for the intentional damage to Leslie Road, South Waikato District Council has apparently been up and looked the area. They tell me they are preparing a report, but that was a month ago, perhaps they are hoping I might forget...

[Tonkatoy.]

Doing good batman
Keep at it

[PeterVahry]

Excellent effort and thanks for following those through. It can be awfully slow to get action from Councils but if we all make an effort to remind them of their responsibilities, maybe they'll eventually see it as 'normal'.

[kaos]

i was on leslie road today in my truck(logger).from putararu end theyve put up a forestry gate before the seal ends by the chicken farms and it says its now a taumata plantations private road no entry .also signs saying hazardous conditions exist and theres no thoroughfare to rotorua.maybe theyve given it to the forestry so they dont have to pay for the up keep

[obansam]

That sounds a bit dodgy to me, I wouldn't have thought a council could just give away public land to a private enterprise!

I'm also having problems to get any response from the council as well. They are completely ignoring me. It's been 4 months now since I originally contacted them...feels like I'm banging my head against a brick wall here.

[Mudde1]

Ask for the information on any communication between the company and the council under the official information act. If they do not supply the information complain to the ombudsman.
Tony

[obansam]

good suggestion Tony. I've emailed the council (yet again!) referring to the OIA...let's see if that gets a reaction?!?

[PeterVahry]

I stopped by Leslie Rd a couple of weeks ago on my way to the 42 Traverse working bee and photographed the gate and sign. If there had been reference to the forestry company, it was not there that day!

A letter has gone from PANZ to the Council, but as yet no acknowledgement.

[obansam]

I've received a letter from the South Waikato District Council (in response to an OIA request). They have instructed the forestry company to open the gate at the Mamaku end and deal to the trees. However the gate at the Putaruru end is actually on private land (outside the road legal boundary) so it can legally be locked, which seems to be a cop out.

[obansam]

Copy of council report

[mudlva]

so is it a case now of following the "legal road" which will bypass the gate altogether.
will just need to get hold of a super accurate topo map and gps system. if theres trees on the road way then could they be chopped down as it could well be discribed as a weed then??

[DieselBoy]

Thats the same story you get with all of these gated roads.

the standard response we get time and time again is :

" the road alignment deviates (ever so slightly) from the surveyed route onto private land, so therefore it is no longer accessible to the public."

Erua Road is a prime example. The road has a slight deviation created around a slip off the proper alignment. as a result, no body can travel through that road and there's a big locked gate at the start of it.

[obansam]

Is anyone able to confirm if the forestry has opened the gate, filled in the drain and removed the pine tree barricades from Leslie road. I'd ask the SWDC but based on my last two emails to them and their lack of replies I'm not even going to bother asking!

Cheers

[obansam]

After nearly 10 months of pretty much one sided correspondence with the South Waikato District Council they inform me that the welded gate at the Mamaku end of Leslie road has had the welds removed. Apparently the gate is closed, but not locked and is able to be opened and the road is accessible. There is no confirmation that the trees across the road have been removed...I have my doubts! (The forestry company is called 'Hancock Forest Management' just in case anyone knows these guys?)

Is there anyone going to be over that way that could check it out?

[obansam]

I can confirm the road is now open. Goes to show if you are persistent enough (or enough of a pain in the arse!) councils will listen. Not that they had much choice, as the law was pretty clear in this case.

The illegally locked gate is open and the forestry have cleaned up all the rubbish and trees across the road (at the Mamaku end). Just hoping that people will respect the private property side roads running off Leslie Road, where they are marked & gated.

The bottom gate at the Putaruru (Whites Road) end is still locked, but this is on private property so legally can be locked. However there is a small track running parallel to sealed road (immediately on the South side) which I think is on the surveyed road. There is a gateway (no gate, just posts) filled with gravel. I'm going to check but this most likely can be cleared as long as it's public property and then people should be able to drive the whole length of the road.

[PeterVahry]

Thank you for your persistence, it is the only way unfortunately. Council's are slowly getting to recognise the law. Recently the Environment Court on the West Coast refused to stop a legal road along the coast even though several baches were built on it. The road was recognised as access to the coast and enabling recreation.

[DieselBoy]

No idea what road, but either way that's a big win for public access across the board!!!!

[tgaguy1]

No idea what road, but either way that's a big win for public access across the board!!!!

x2

Nice work and well done on your persistence.