17 December 2010

New land a gateway to Hakatere Conservation Park

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is encouraging holiday-makers to take advantage of a fantastic new addition to Hakatere Conservation Park.

The new land links the Heron Basin to the Canterbury Plains and offers the potential for some of Canterbury’s best family mountain biking, horse riding and walking opportunities.

“As this land forms the gateway to Hakatere Conservation Park and sits right on sealed, Ashburton Gorge Road, we are aware of the tremendous potential for accessible tramping and mountain-biking it offers,” says DOC Programme Manager, Murray Thomas.

Barrosa pastoral lease completed the tenure review process in July 2010 resulting in about 4,840 hectares becoming public conservation land.

“This tenure review has been the culmination of many years of consultation with [Barrosa lessee] Robin Grigg,” says Murray. “We have appreciated the positive approach and patience that Robin has had throughout the process and his tenacity in helping make this possible.”

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Essentially comprising the Clent Hills, Barrosa is part of a distinctive volcanic landscape that creates a striking mountain range backdrop to the Canterbury Plains. The area’s unusual geology, such as the rhyolite bedrock in the lower part of the Stour Valley, gives rise to specialised native vegetation.

Barrosa includes outstanding wetland habitat such as the shores of Lake Emily (now protected in their entirety) and significant expanses of red tussock.

This acquisition will provide protection for rare and remarkable native species such as the New Zealand falcon/ karearea, New Zealand scaup and the Australasian bittern/matuku and crested grebe/kāmana.

With red deer in the hills and brooke charr in Lake Emily there is good potential for hunting and fishing. Temuka Fish & Game Officer Mark Webb describes Lake Emily as “the best known and most well-recognised brooke charr fishery in the country.”

DOC will continue work on tracks and facilities in the area over the next few months and plans to work with the public to establish the best ways in which this land can be opened up for recreation.

ENDS

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