Otago's recreational four-wheel-drive community is worried vehicle access to some of the region's high country will be closed when the Department of Conservation's proposed Oteake Conservation Park is formed.
Representatives of various four-wheel-drive clubs in New Zealand voiced their concerns during a public forum of the Otago Conservation Board's meeting at Kyeburn Diggings yesterday.
Waitaki Land Rover Owners Enthusiasts Club representative Vernon Hayes, of Oamaru, told board members he wanted Doc to open all recreation tracks within Oteake's boundaries, instead of only those initially selected by the department for public access.
"I'm very passionate about this area as it has been my playground for the past 40 years. I don't want to lose my right to go through it, as I have been able to negotiate with previous land owners in the past," he said.
A legal road along the top of the Hawkdun Range, a popular four-wheel-driving track in past years, was not included within Doc's planned public access routes through Oteake, he said.
"It's an incredibly important road. It's very scenic and the track requires minimal maintenance as it is very rocky."
Doc Otago conservator Jeff Connell said the management of four-wheel-drive tracks was a new thing for the department, and in relation to Oteake it wanted to tread carefully.
"The department's had some bad experiences with irresponsible four-wheel-drivers in the past, not to say clubs have been a problem, but we are in the business of catering to the general public and any access we open to clubs is also open to the general public, and we have to be careful.
"This Oteake plan is a start and we are not ruling out opening up other areas in the future," Mr Connell said.
When asked by Mt Ida Syndicate member Alistair Scott whether the syndicate's former land bordering parts of the proposed Oteake park would be included in the recreation reserve, Mr Connell was optimistic it would.
Mr Scott said Doc needed to make sure it was looked after, as people had been going through it and damaging huts.
Board members had also expressed their concerns about potential damage by recreational users during their meeting.
Mr Connell said Doc had photographs of all tracks within Oteake's proposed borders, including ones frequently used by people in four-wheel-drive vehicles or motorbikes.
Doc was responsible for most tracks within Oteake, while the Central Otago District Council had responsibilities to maintain some others.
