The
Roxburgh Gorge Cycle Trail Trust has received a trespass
notice from the lawyer of Bruce and Leigh Johnston,
landowners along the first 10km of the 34km cycle trail from
Alexandra to the Roxburgh hydro dam.
However, trust chairman Stephen Jeffery said it was a tree
branch that did the trespassing.
As part of a formal survey, which the Johnstons commissioned,
pegs connected by string were erected to mark the boundary of
their land and the marginal strip on which the trail is being
built.
Mr Jeffery said when the contractors were clearing some trees
from the marginal strip, a branch fell on the string and the
tension caused two of the pegs to come out.
He recently received a letter from Checketts McKay Law which
said about December 7, two pegs had been knocked over.
"This is a trespass and we have contacted the Alexandra
police," the letter said.
Mr Jeffery said he had not been contacted by police.
Central Otago police sub area commander Senior Sergeant Ian
Kerrisk said he had no record of any complaint.
He said police were aware of the ongoing dispute between the
Johnstons and the trust but this type of event would not be a
matter police would get involved in, though it could be taken
through civil court.
When contacted by the Otago Daily Times yesterday,
Bruce Johnston declined to comment.
Lawyer Russell Checketts could not be reached for comment.
Mr Jeffery said he was "obviously disappointed that it's got
to this stage".
Construction of the first 10km of the trail from the
Alexandra end started early last month and Mr Jeffery said it
was making good progress.
It is expected to be completed by June.
John Sutton Contracting has recently begun blasting to clear
the route of large rocks.
The trust is still in the process of negotiating with
landowners from the Roxburgh Hydro Dam 10km back towards
Alexandra but Mr Jeffery said this was "looking positive".
Construction of this section is expected to begin within a
year.
The middle section is still contentious as the Miller family,
who farm The Herrons Station, are adamant the trail will not
cross their land.
The trust intends to boat cyclists past The Herrons.
The total cost of the trail has been budgeted at $3.4
million.
- sarah.marquet@odt.co.nz
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