22 June 2006
Commissioner of Crown Lands
C/- Opus International Consultants Ltd
Private Bag 1913
Dunedin
Attn: Dave Payton
Fax (03) 474 8895 DD 03 471 5514
Email: dave.payton@opus.co.nz
This submission is made on behalf of the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association Incorporated (NZDA). NZDA is the national association of recreational deerstalkers and other big game hunters. We have 53 branches. A number of other hunting clubs throughout New Zealand are also members. We have 7200 individual members, and have been actively advocating for deerstalking and hunting and running training courses, trips, conferences etc since 1937. Branches and individuals of NZDA may also be making their own submissions.
NZDA has a longstanding interest in the surrender of wildlands unsuitable for grazing from pastoral leases and pastoral occupation licences. Under New Zealand trespass laws, recreational hunters have often been locked out of hunting deer on the wildland parts of these leases by the lessees, who keep the publicly owned wild big game for their own use or sale.
NZDA strongly supports this Preliminary Proposal, as a valuable addition to the proposed Hawkdun Conservation Park, as the gateway to the Upper Manuherikia Valley, and to Falls Dam. Additionally we seek joining foot or preferably vehicle access from the south, from the top of Fiddlers Flat Road. And legalising the alignment of parts of Home Hills Run Road.
The lease area is 3200 Ha. It is situated in the Upper Manuherikia Valley to the east of Falls Dam, 8km to the east of St Bathans, in Central Otago. The lease provides a gateway to the Upper Mauherikia Valley, via the metalled Home Hills Run Road. There is also public road access as far as Falls Dam, from the South via Fiddlers Flat Road.
To be surrendered are:
CA1 (1374 Ha), a lowish (600-800 m asl) flattish area of primarily alluvial fans, of the Manuherikia River, backing on to the bottom of the Hawkdun Range. It has tussocklands, wetlands and shrublands. It will complete an altitudinal sequence from the Manuherikia River to the top of the Dunstans. A dirt road at the south will provide public vehicle access to Falls Dam (lake). It contains a 10 year grazing phase-out concession.
CA2 (138 Ha) - protects various shrub and native grass associations alongside the Manuherikia River below Falls Dam.
In the only comprehensive assessment of outdoor recreational characteristics and value for Otago, Bruce Mason, in "Outdoor Recreation in Otago - A Conservation Plan Vol 1" (1988, Federated Mountain Clubs) assessed part of CA1 as worthy of natural space protection. (Map, Page 36, text p 37-40).
Its main value to hunters is as a hunting access point to the Hawkduns. There is a possiblilty these flats could carry Red deer, a species present on the Hawkduns. The flatland nature of the block will be a welcome addition to the proposed Hawkduns Conservation Park.
We request there be a connecting public road or foot accessway from the top of Fiddlers Flat Road to the dirt road that is part of CA1, along or near the Falls Dam lake. There does not appear to be legal access along there at present. If a vehicular access, then round trips would be possible eg for picnics at the lake. It would also allow round trips between CA1 and CA2. Falls Dam is a major recreational feature in the area, with fishing and gamebird shooting, including Canada Geese, Paradise duck and mallard.
The issue of the Home Hills Run Road being off its legal alignment mentioned in the Conservation Resources Report, should be corrected as part of this Review proposal.
As well the term, 10 years, of the phase-out grazing lease on CA1 is too long. We propose 3 years. This will assist faster tussock and shrubland recovery.
Please contact me if you require further information. Thanking you
Yours truly
Dr Hugh Barr
NZDA National Advocate
cc Department of Conservation, Dunedin
© 2011 New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association