A seldom-used "paper" road through Moutere Station should remain a public road because of its potential use in the future by walkers, runners and cyclists, the Environment Court has ruled.
The court recently overturned a decision by the Central Otago District Council that the 2.2km stretch of unformed road through the station, 15km north of Alexandra, should be stopped.
The Central Otago Recreational Users Forum, which objected to the road being stopped, hailed the decision as a victory for recreational users of public land.
"The important thing about this case is that it's the first one we know of that's essentially been decided on the basis of future use of the road," forum chairman Morley Williams, of Cromwell, said.
The forum represents about 50 different recreational groups and individuals.
Moutere Station owner Tony Jopp said the paper road through tussock country was unformed and unmarked and in 50 years he had never seen anyone use it.
The district council's roading manager, Julie Muir, told the court the road was no longer necessary as part of the council's roading network now or in the future.
The road, between an unformed portion of Nelson Ridge Rd and an unformed part of Waikerikeri Valley Rd, was unlikely to be upgraded even to the status of a track, she said.
Mr Jopp said it went through an intensely farmed area of the station which was the hub of Moutere's high-value merino stud operation.
As a vet, he had concerns about biosecurity risks such as sheep measles or ovine foot rot which might be introduced by stray dogs or by humans.
"The consequences of something untoward happening are more than on an average farm."
Forum members gave evidence at the hearing last month that the road was likely to be used in the future by walkers, runners and bikers.
Environment Court commissioners Alex Sutherland and Charles Manning, who heard the case, said they attached "little significance to the absence of past or present use of the road".
"We find the public benefit of retaining the road for recreational purposes is greater than the public cost of doing so."
