Three popular recreation reserves in the Queenstown Lakes area could be closed to the public this summer because of the increasingly high risk of wildfire.
Queenstown Lakes District Council community community services general manager Ken Bailey said, in a release last night, the Ben Lomond and Queenstown Hill reserves and Wānaka’s Mt Iron were all subject to a year-round total fire ban, and new reserve closure protocols would be introduced when fire indices reached extreme levels.
This would also close businesses operating in these areas.
"Our reserves are great places to visit and enjoy. But as hot, dry and windy conditions set in over summer there may be days where elevated fire danger means it’s unsafe.
"Closing the impacted reserves on these days means all appropriate steps are being taken to remove the potential for ignition to occur and reduce the risk to life or property," he said.
"Every day there could be thousands of people enjoying these areas and, as we’ve seen both locally here in New Zealand, and internationally, wildfire can have a devastating effect."
There would be clear trigger points to activate a closure.
Mr Bailey said taking steps to close these reserves during periods of extreme risk was just one of the interventions under way.
"We’ve been working closely with experts to understand the threat that wildfires pose to, or from council-administered land, and through that process have received several recommended interventions that require further investigation, such as introduction of fire breaks and legislative changes.
"A business case is now under way to help us understand the estimated cost and implementation staging but, in the meantime, there are some quick wins we can implement prior to and during the upcoming summer season," he said.
"Along with introducing reserve closures, we’re in the process of installing an environmental monitoring system to help us monitor the conditions within the Ben Lomond and Mt Iron Reserves, will be introducing new signage and supporting Fire and Emergency New Zealand to amplify community education on fire safety and risk."
When a closure is put in place, QLDC will immediately notify relevant leaseholders and the wider community.
"Most importantly, if you’re planning to head up Ben Lomond, Queenstown Hill or Wānaka’s Mt Iron, make sure you know the status before you go."
The closures were a response to climate change.
"We also know that closing these reserves may impact people’s recreation or, in the case of Ben Lomond, their business, so we only take this step when it is deemed really necessary to do so."
