The potential for members of the public trying to get to conservation land to stray on to an army live-firing range has prompted the closure of two paper roads on Braemar Station.
Paper roads providing access to Department of Conservation land north of Braemar Station, near Lake Tekapo, were officially closed to the public this week.
As a result of tenure review in April 2012, a live-firing range and military training camp were established on 8600ha at Braemar Station, after the land was returned to the Crown and gazetted for ''defence purposes''.
Mackenzie District Council assets manager Bernie Haar said although there had been no reported incidents of people wandering on to the range, a ''risk'' of that happening was identified.
Mr Haar said the council imposed a 12-month temporary road closure on two unnamed roads off Braemar Rd as a precaution.
''The land on Braemar Station that had been returned to the Department of Conservation for recreational purposes had an approved easement that skirts the live-firing range, but there are a couple of paper roads that go through the firing-range.''
Alternative foot access to the Doc land would be available.
New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) southern region communication adviser Zen Gregor said the range could be used for training with weapons at any time, day or night and ''in all seasons''.
Warnings are posted on the Military Training Area boundary.
