At a recent council meeting, councillors acknowledged the passionate views expressed by the community, with public submissions evenly split — 55 in support and 55 against continued grazing of the reserve. After much discussion, the council voted in favour of the community board’s proposal, which balances environmental restoration with continued, limited grazing.
The council will now delegate to the chief executive the authority to renegotiate the licence to occupy and renewal terms "that allow sufficient notice for the lessee, but align with the eventual re-establishment of the entire reserve".
The Waihemo Recreation Reserve, located near Palmerston, has been grazed for over a century under a month-by-month licence. However, the area contains rare native vegetation and is earmarked as a Significant Natural Area in the draft District Plan.
Waitaki District Council has a project in partnership with the Puketapu Community Trust to create a formal track up Puketapu Maunga via the reserve. The trust also plans to carry out pest control and restoration work on the reserve.
Grazing of deer is considered inconsistent with the requirements of the Reserves Act and should eventually be retired, a district council document said.
"However, a rapid retirement of the land from grazing could result in an increase in invasive pest species."
This month-by-month arrangement allowed for community consultation to occur around further grazing of the recreation reserve, a council statement said.
"The Reserves Act 1977 requires that council consults with the community around its intent in issuing a licence or lease. The district council advertised its intent in issuing a grazing licence for part of the Waihemo Recreation Reserve in February, receiving 112 submissions with 55 submissions supporting the issuing of a grazing licence and 55 against.
"The council’s hearing committee assessed the submission and recommended a reduced licence area would work in with the proposed development of the walking track up to Puketapu.
"The access to the summit is a key project for the Waihemo community, so this approach will allow for that work to continue along with pest control and planting."
