'Legal road' to Hollyford was formed

The surveyor who determined in 1976 a legal road runs from Haast to Hollyford in South Westland has recalled driving his Holden station wagon along about half its length.

Owen Amor (85), now of Richmond, Nelson, was chief surveyor in Hokitika for six years in the 1970s.

Mr Amor recalled to the Otago Daily Times this week the road was only a ''rough track'' but was good enough to get a Department of Lands and Survey Holden station wagon along.

Mr Amor's 1970s investigation of the legality of the route is a major plank in the case the Haast-Hollyford Highway Ltd is putting up to be allowed to create a new toll road.

The Haast-Hollyford route would provide much more direct access between the West Coast and Milford Sound than the existing Haast Pass route. However, the legal status of the road has been contentious. Land Information Minister Michael Woodhouse told the company recently it ''has never been clear'' and the issue would need to be settled by a court.

The company disagrees and is resisting going to court because of the cost and wants LINZ to show what process it used to stop what it regards as a legal road.

Part of its case rests on a Mr Amor's 1976 determination the road ''would be legal under section 110A of the Public Works Act 1928''.

Mr Amor noted the Public Works Act of 1882 defined a road as being ''a public highway whether carriageway, bridle path or footpath and includes the soil of Crown land over which a road is laid out and marked on the survey maps''.

Mr Amor said his ability to drive his Holden along a bulldozed track as far as Big Bay in 1973 was part of the proof the road existed. He believed the road was formed by whitebaiters wanting access to stands in the Big Bay area.

As well, he said, there were subdivision records showing the road continued further south to the Hollyford Valley.

Mr Amor, who retired in 1985, reaffirmed to the ODT his 1976 opinion the road remains legal.

''We looked into the legality of the so-called paper road ... and it appeared as though it was a legal road all right, and it had been formed down to Big Bay.''

Mr Havill said the importance of Mr Amor's 1976 determination was not only that it showed the road was legal, but at about that time all road reserves became the property of the local authority, rather than the Government.

That would put ownership of the Haast-Hollyford route in the hands of the Westland and Southland District Councils.

Mr Havill said the company has written to the Westland council seeking support for the road to be formed.

''They have said they will go along with it, but we need that support in writing so that we can move ahead. I know most of the council are fully supportive of it.''

Mr Havill said the company would also write to the Southland council.

- mark.price@odt.co.nz

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