The Dunedin City Council has finished its consultation over a new bylaw for its water supply and is working through the submissions.
Event organiser Steve Tripp said he was not aware of the consultation and changes proposed to access to certain areas around the city and beyond would impact races and events.
On maps, outlined in the consultation document, catchment areas are identified.
This includes surface and groundwater catchment areas from which water is abstracted.
The council has divided these areas into three environments for access — controlled, restricted and open.
The controlled area would not be entered by any person except those specifically approved by the council.
Within a restricted area, those carrying out hunting, tramping, trapping and fishing would be allowed. For any other activities the restricted area would be managed as if it was a controlled area.
Any open area would have no restrictions except if mining or dredging.
The Silverpeaks area is divided into three areas, the bulk of which is either controlled or restricted, with a smaller area open.
Mr Tripp said the Three Peaks event, which had become very popular, would be impacted if the new rules came in.
‘‘The 56km route for it goes through the area that’s going to be controlled now. So it’ll be permit only according to that bylaw. There’s been the New Zealand Trail Running Championship run there so it’s quite a significant one,’’ he said.
A lot of runners used those trails regularly and they were a good access point into the Silverpeaks.
‘‘They’re taking out one of the major two tracks that are good tracks to get into the Silverpeaks which will be out of use for common use and only by permit.’’
Mr Tripp had organised the Pigs Backyard Ultra event in February this year which would be affected by the new bylaw.
‘‘The bylaw doesn’t present any evidence that it’s a problem. They just say to protect the water catchment, but they don’t show any evidence that the water catchment has been damaged by humans going through the area.
‘‘Meanwhile, the area is full of pigs, goats and wild cattle. There’s been some attempts to control them, but there’s still plenty of them.’’
Events were well organised and people looked after the environment.
‘‘People are usually pretty good. We make sure everyone picks up rubbish. We pick up all our trail markings afterwards.
‘‘People use it because they respect it. They like being out there and they like looking after it.’’
Dunedin had a reputation nationwide as a good trail-running place.
‘‘And this is taking out some significant trails that people walk and run on. They’re very close to town.’’
He questioned the consultation and how well it had been publicised. Other groups he had spoken to had no idea it was happening.
‘‘I found out the day the submissions closed. During the month submissions were open, Three Peaks happened. Three Peaks organisers were never told about it.’’
A council spokesperson said it was still working through the consultation process, which has been open to all members of the public — including recreation clubs, which did make submissions on catchment access — and 18 submissions were received.
Staff were pleased with the range of views received, and all concerns raised would be considered by the hearings committee when it meets in late May.
A recommendation will be made to the council, which will make the final decision on any changes to the proposed bylaw.
