Doc gains three conservation areas

Three areas of public conservation land, including an early moa-hunting site, have been created from 6500ha acquired by the Department of Conservation (Doc).

Land originally part of the Greenvale and Allendale pastoral leases near Kingston was transferred to the department in November 2011 as a result of the Land Information New Zealand led High Country Tenure Review programme.

The three areas were described as Trotter's Historic Reserve, an addition to the Eyre Mountains/Taka Ra Haka Conservation Park and Robert Creek Conservation Area.

The new 17ha Trotter's Historic Reserve, at the mouth of Allen Creek, includes an early moa-hunting site known by historic record, although no physical evidence remains, and the ruins of the first Trotter's Homestead, built by William Sinclair Trotter, who arrived in the district in 1859.

The stone chimney from the first homestead and the remaining outlying stone ruins were cleared in late February by Doc staff, with the help of a team of volunteers, Doc Wakatipu visitor and historic assets ranger Jim Coawell said.

"The walls we uncovered were beautifully made, dead plumb, dead straight and beautifully put together.

"The corners of the ruins are most interesting, with every second stone placed on its end, which is not something I've seen a lot of locally."

Asked why Doc sought to acquire the land, area manager Greg Lind said the Eyre Mountains/Taka Ra Haka Conservation Area and Robert Creek Conservation Areas both contained significant beech forests, shrublands, alpine vegetation and extensive valley floor wetlands,"These two areas are perhaps easiest recognised as the ... landscapes visible across Lake Wakatipu on the drive south from Queenstown," Mr Lind said.

"Many threatened species such as kea, New Zealand falcon/karearea, rock wren and several different species of galaxiid fish are present in these two areas. A number of threatened plant species also occur, some of which can only be found in the Eyre Mountains."

Recreation opportunities included plans for the 180km Round the Mountain cycleway to run past the Trotter's Homestead, one of several cycleways being developed nationally, as well as easier foot access to Glen Allen Scenic Reserve and hunting for red deer, chamois and pigs.

The land will become part of the Wakatipu open hunting permit, which can now be obtained online.