Fish & Game urges council to ‘do the right thing’

West Coast Fish & Game is urging the Grey District Council (GDC) to “do the right thing” and take immediate action to resolve the issues surrounding Heaphy Road – which provides crucial public access to the Haupiri River and hot pools.

In November, the District Council agreed to close a section of the road in spite of public objections.

West Coast Fish & Game Manager Dean Kelly says the GDC should act in the best interests of West Coast people and “fight for” public access to prized back country fishing, hot pools and native forest.

“If the GDC were to take the initiative on this issue, it could save all involved significant funds as both sides are set to fight the road stopping in the Environment Court.”

“All opposing submitters have tried to negotiate alternative public access through this area but when the intention of the neighbouring landowner is to control access to the valley the options are limited.”

“Legally ‘stopping’ a road must be in the public interest but Fish & Game can find no public gain in closing the road”, adds Mr Kelly. The Council should rescind their decision to close Heaphy Road, and resolve legal issues surrounding the last section of the road.

The existing road was formed with public funds in 1906 and is now at risk of falling into private hands and public access will be lost forever, he says.

Fish & Game’s legal advice is that consent given by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to the closure was ‘clearly incorrect’ in that the road has indeed been used by the public since the early 1900s.

“We believe that the Grey District Council and LINZ have been badly advised that the road is not used by the public, and effectively “goes nowhere.”

This is most certainly not the case, says Mr Kelly, and survey plans plainly show that it is within the Council’s powers to put things right – and provide enduring and unfettered access to this back country river and the surrounding landscapes.

The alternative access to the valley which has been proposed runs through an impassable white pine swamp and the Council has given no indication of any plans to put a road through this area.

“The council has failed to seize a prime opportunity to act in the interests of the public and address this issue.”

ENDS

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