23 February 2009
The New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association (NZDA) makes the following submission on the Crown land resulting from this expired Pastoral Occupation Licence (POL).
NZDA is the national association of deerstalkers and other big game hunters, with 50 branches and hunting member clubs throughout New Zealand. NZDA has 7500 members, and has been actively advocating for recreational deerstalking and hunting, running hunter training courses, trips, conferences etc since 1937. NZDA sets and maintains ethical standards for hunting.
A number of NZDA Branches would have an interest in hunting in the Kakanui mountains, of which this access and surrender opens the way. They include North Otago (Oamaru), Otago (Dunedin), Southern Lakes(Queenstown, Alexandra), South Canterbury (Timaru), South Otago (Balclutha). Other branch members and independent recreational hunters will also be interested. There are an estimated 60,000 big game recreational hunters in New Zealand.
Summary:
Shingley Creek is a pastoral lease on the southern side of the Kakanui Mountains, used primarily as a summer run-off block in association with a nearby 1600 Ha farm. It has no road frontage, but is accessible from SH 85 (Pigroot), 45 Km from Palmerston, North Otago. The Dasher Pastoral lease is to the east. The upper parts of the lease are on the western flank of the Kakanui Mountains. Round Hill and Pigroot Hill are just to the south.
The lease is 816 Ha, with grazing allowed for only 9 months of the year ie de-stocked in winter. 414 ha of high altitude land is proposed for surrender (CA1), 403 Ha is to be freeholded. Two proposed conservation covenants, unfenced, up Siberia Creek, from the top of its proposed marginal strip to CA1 (500 m long), and similarly for a smaller tributary of Pigroot Creek to the west, near the start of public access d-c, 1100 m long).
CA1 rises to a high point of 1128 m in the north, on the Kakanui Mountains, and is generally above 800 m, except in the lower parts of the Siberia Stream catchment. The Siberia Stream catchment makes up over 90% of CA1. It is primarily open space with snow tussock and some boulder fields. The land to be freeholded is the lower half of the lease, nearest the valley floor.
Public Access and recreation:
Access is proposed from the SH 85, by d-c, b-a, but not for motorized vehicles, except those owned by DOC. The access easement again appears to deviate from a legal road along the southern boundary, either because it has to, or more likely to restrict public vehicle access rights. This access provision is very roundabout, being some 3,000 m long, compared to the direct route to CA1, up the left stream (line of the conservation covenant) of 1100 m ie is three times longer. No public access to the western side of CA1 is provided. A route up the stream (CC) would provide such direct western access.
Recommendation 1: NZDA proposes that an additional easement be provided up this Conservation Covenant, to give direct public access to the western side of CA1.
DOC zoned the area Back Country 4WD Drive-in in its 1992 recreation survey of Otago. At present, legal access exists only by marginal strips up Siberia Creek, and possibly via an unformed legal road. Thus, some form of public foot and motorised access easement should be provided from SH 85 to point d, at the start of LINZ’s proposed easement. There are important open space and scenic values on the CA1 block that appeal to many recreational users.
Recommendation 2: A public foot and motorised vehicle access easement be provided to “d” (negotiated with the owner of this freehold land) to allow public access to CA1. No public access to CA1 from SH 85 is currently provided. So no public access is provided in this proposal.
Public Access explanation: There is major need for Preliminary Proposals to have a section explaining what access is to be provided, and why this is adequate. The presently proposed access is non-existent, if the public has to ask permission to reach point “d”.
Big Game Animals: There is evidence of pigs on the property (CRR). NZDA sees the value of this surrender of CA1 as being a step in achieving a Kakanui Conservation Park, incorporating as much of the Kakanui Mountains as available. There will be Red deer and pigs in such a larger conservation park, and recreational hunters will be interested in hunting them.
For that reason, public 4WD access should be provided to and along the public accessway d-c, b-a, to the north-eastern corner of CA1, to allow 4WD public access to be provided in future further into the potential Park. This is the one opportunity to provide for future access via the Shingley Creek property. Adequate public access for the future is a very important consideration.
Recommendation 3: Public 4WD access, possibly not in winter, be provided from SH 85 to point d, and on d-c, c-b, b-a, and through CA1 to its eastern boundary. This would be appreciated for access to CA1, and also for future access, once additional land is surrendered, to the core of the Kakanui Mountains. The access easement b-a, along the southern boundary, is a farm track along or near the line of the legal road, and should be modified to be the legal road. If DOC has a need to use vehicles on this easement, then the public should have the same rights also. There is nothing in the CPL Act giving DOC priority for access over the public.
Conclusion:
NZDA supports this preliminary proposal. But requests that recommendations 1, 2 and 3 above, concerning rectifying the present inadequate provisions for public access, be implemented as well, to adequately provide for “the securing of public access to and enjoyment of reviewable land” as required by S 24 (c ) (i).
© 2011 New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association