Otago residents are
being encouraged to have their say on the Department of
Conservation's proposed major tourism attraction in the
Central Otago high country.
Doc has called for submissions to be made on its multimillion
dollar Oteake Conservation Park, which comprises sections of
the St Bathans, Hawkdun, Ida, Ewe, and St Marys ranges.
The 65,000ha park is Crown-owned and managed by the
department, which plans to develop it as a conservation area
open to the public for recreational use.
It is envisaged people will be able to enjoy tramping,
mountain biking, angling, back-country skiing, and hunting,
as well as four-wheel driving and motorcycling within
Oteake's boundary.
Included in the park are seven existing conservation areas.
It is expected at least two other high country stations
recently purchased by the Crown will be added.
Those properties were bought through land tenure review
processes and in a statement released yesterday Doc Otago
conservator Jeff Connell said they were "yet to be gazetted
as land to be managed by Doc".
Mr Connell said the discussion document released yesterday
outlined the park's natural and recreational values and
described how all interested parties could be involved.
"People need to remember that this is a proposal.
All submissions will be considered although a final decision
will be made by the Minister of Conservation," he said.
Submissions close on July 14.
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