The Roaring Meg Pack Track traverses the Pisa Range and links the Cardrona Valley with the Kawarau Gorge.
The section crossing Crown pastoral lease land farmed by Lowburn Station was closed late last year, along with a section of the Cardrona-Cromwell Pack Track on the same property.
Neither track follows a paper road or has an easement.
Ngai Tahu kaumatua Edward Ellison, of Dunedin, learned of the closure yesterday. He described the Roaring Meg track as having been a ‘‘highway'' for Maori hunters and traders for centuries, and it had ‘‘a lot of significance'' for Ngai Tahu.
‘‘So it is quite a concern.''Mr Ellison said the track had been important because it led to a ‘‘natural bridge'' over the Kawarau River upstream of the Roaring Meg power station.
The track was also used by gold miners travelling between Cromwell and Cardrona, and more recently by trampers.
Upper Clutha Tramping Club president Rod McLeod said the club was unhappy at the closure.
‘‘We would like to understand if there is a particular reason why these tracks are closed.''
The 5814ha Lowburn Station is a family farm run by Anne Nielsen and partner Dave McLean, and their children.
Mitten McLean told the Otago Daily Times yesterday, the family were keen trampers, did ‘‘not feel great'' about closing the tracks but felt they had no choice.
‘‘The main reason we closed the track initially was because of public safety.''
The Cardrona-Cromwell track ran ‘‘straight through the middle of'' the station's sheep yards, he said.
‘‘We have no alternative route to move ourselves or stock to and from our house and yards other than by the track in question.
‘‘For years we have been telling Doc that this track is putting the public in the way of danger and suggesting an alternative. There have been multiple incidents and near misses but last year things came to a head when someone was almost killed by a bull.
‘‘Unfortunately a significant number of the public using the tracks have no animal sense and are putting themselves at risk.''
Mr McLean said the family's suggested alternative was more direct, but it was told by LINZ it could not grant public access over its leasehold land.
‘‘And we have a letter from Doc saying that while we are in tenure review they won't be involved in changing any tracks. It is really stressful knowing that someone might be killed on your farm. There is not just a good alternative but a better alternative for walkers.''
Mr McLean said although the tracks were closed ‘‘if the proposed tenure review outcome will allow us to continue high country farming and we can come to an agreement, this will change''.
Land Information New Zealand group manager crown property John Hook told the ODT the lessee's decision to close the tracks was ‘‘not related to the property being in tenure review''.
‘‘The lessee is allowed to close the tracks where they cross the lease, as long as the track is not a public or paper road, or a legal easement.
‘‘This is a working farm and sometimes these tracks can interfere with the farm operations,'' Mr Hook said.
The Department of Conservation has posted an ‘‘alert'' on its website advising of the closure, and spokeswoman Annette Grieve said Doc signs had been removed from the track.
‘‘It is an unfortunate situation for recreational users wishing to enter the Pisa Conservation Area from the eastern side, however other access options are available,'' Ms Grieve said.
