2 June 2005
Commissioner of Crown Lands
C/- Quotable Value Ltd
P O Box 13 443
Christchurch
Fax (03) 341 1635
This submission is made jointly on behalf of the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association Incorporated, the national body of recreational deerstalkers, and the Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of New Zealand Inc.
The 2602 ha Compensation Run is located between the Leatham and Branch Rivers, 70 kms south-west of Blenheim.
It is proposed that 2565 ha be retained in full Crown ownership as conservation area. This consists of steep and mountainous county abutting more extensive public lands. Large areas have been previously cleared and most has been ungrazed for many years. Regenerating shrubland and beech forest predominates.
The balance of 40 ha at the Leatham-Branch confluence is proposed for freeholding subject to a public access easement up the floor of the Branch valley along an existing vehicle track. This is for all forms of passage including motor vehicles.
We support the proposal, subject to provision of a legal road across the area to be freeholded, in place of the proposed access easement.
It is good to see sensible surrender of low value erodable land but with significant recreational and scenic value, re-assigned to the public conservation estate.
However, there must be free access for hunters with guns and/or dogs, who need free public access access the freeholded portion too. The most permanent way to provide this is as a public road. This ensures the right for vehicles as well.
Without providing for hunter access, an unsympathetic freeholder could charge access for hunters, or prohibit them unless they paid him a fee. This happens from time to time on back country land.
As you may know, a road toll has already been set up by the lessee of the Rainbow Pastoral Lease, in the Upper Wairau Valley, where there is apparently no public road, for access to Molesworth. He charges vehicles $20 each, and is reputed to make $100,000/year (5,000 vehicles from this enterprise. It is a straight vehicle access levy, as he does no maintenance on the road.
Though it should be against the terms of his pastoral lease, as it certainly isn't grazing, he seems to get away with it. It sets a dangerous precedent for this access to the Branch, and why we call for a public road designation to ensure it doesn't happen here.
This entrance to the Branch Valley is the popular access point. The Branch is a valley that I know quite well, and have tramped through on several occasions. It is an attractive regenerating area, giving access to a number of DOC huts further up the valley, and attractive side valleys such as Silverstream, and Scott's Knob, a 2,000 metre peak, as well as access through to the Severn Valley in Molesworth, and across the Raglan Range to tributaries at the head of the Wairau.
It is also important for hunting, including deerstalking and probably pig hunting. Consequently to adequately meet the terms of the CPL Act, Section 24: Objects of Tenure Review, (c)) "makes easier (i) the securing of public access to and enjoyment of reviewable land;" it is essential to provide permanent public access for hunters with firearms and/or dogs, a public road is essential.
We trust that the Commissioner of Crown Lands will be able to successfully negotiate this change.
We fully support the Submission of Public Access New Zealand, and the arguments set out there for public road access to the Branch Valley.
Yours Truly
Dr Hugh Barr
NZDA National Advocate
Secretary, Council of Outdoor recreation Associations
© 2011 New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association