During the recent Covid-19 lockdown, the Clutha District Council invited contributions from Catlins community groups to its submission on the Department of Conservation’s Otago Conservation Management Strategy review of cycle trails.
In its submission, the council identified four potential trails involving conservation land, ranging from 10km to 60km.
The council said since the trails were only in the "conceptual" stage and discussions had not been held with landowners who would be affected, it would not go into details except to confirm they were in "Catlins coastal areas".
The Catlins covers 1900sq km, of which a little over 25% is conservation land managed by Doc.
Doc will consider submissions during its conservation management strategy deliberations this month, and could make amendments to the strategy as early as November.
Council chief executive Steve Hill stressed the council’s submission did not mean any trails were planned, or would eventuate.
Instead, it opened the door for the future planning and development of trails, if public and stakeholder interest warranted it.
A recent report prepared by council project manager Aileen Clarke said any such trails would be community-run projects "with [council] staff guidance".
Papatowai conservationist and cyclist Fergus Sutherland said he had contributed to submissions from Forest & Bird’s Lenz Reserve, near Tautuku, Catlins Promotions and the council, and had submitted on his own behalf.
As Doc’s conservation management strategy already allowed for cycle trails elsewhere in Otago, he believed this should be extended to the Catlins.
"The previous blanket rule for the Catlins was a bit of an oversight [in the conservation management strategy].
"When managed carefully, I don’t believe there’s any incompatibility between cycle tourism and conservation, so I’d welcome any change that allowed consideration of some of the fantastic forest and coastal options we have down here."
One submission proposed a 3km trail from the Tautuku Outdoor Education Centre to the Fleming River, which would take riders away from the Chaslands Highway, he said.
"This would be a fantastic cycle through pristine forest."
Similar sections elsewhere could help avoid on-road danger spots for cyclists, and could link with longer, off-road trails inland, he said.
