Beau and Ann Trevathan, and their son Jonny, have a temporary ''live-strand fence'' running from a fixed fence on their property across to the edge of the Clutha River to prevent stock escaping on to neighbouring land and nearby Maori Point Rd. The fence - which has an insulated section to allow the public to climb over it - crosses a road reserve, administered by the Central Otago District Council, and a riverbed, administered by Land Information New Zealand.
The family had farmed the land in question for 60 years without previous issue, Beau Trevathan said.
However, repairs had to be made to the fence after it was discovered partly dismantled early this year, and the same thing had continued to happen ''every day since then, virtually''.
After the council removed the unauthorised sign this week, the Trevathans discovered the entire fence pulled out and dumped in a heap at the site.
Beau Trevathan said it was ''cowardly'' of the person or people responsible to not identify themselves.
Council infrastructure services manager Jon Kingsford said while the Trevathans did not have formal permission to occupy road reserve, the council had no issue with it and it was one of many similar land occupations by farmers, ''both within the district and New Zealand-wide, I would think''.
''We are no different from all the farmers on both sides of the river from Wanaka to Balclutha,'' Beau Trevathan said.
The officer in charge of Cromwell police, Sergeant Simon Paget, said a staff member visited the site yesterdaybut police were limited in what action they could take.
''The main issue where we'd be concerned is the fact that they're removing an electric fence and there's the potential for stock to get on the road and, of course, there's a risk to the public,'' he said.
''The ins and outs of who's entitled to use the land and who isn't, that's more bordering on civil law and isn't an area that police could get involved with lawfully.''
However, the person responsible could be prosecuted for dismantling the fence and removing the poisons warning notice on which the anonymous message was written, as both actions endangered public safety, Sgt Paget said.
He asked people living in the area to report any suspicious activity to police.
Fish and Game chief executive Niall Watson said the sign erected at the site was ''certainly not an approved sign'' and he was unaware of any complaints from anglers or anyone else about river access in the area.
