After the Department of Conservation of New Zealand approved a partial review of the area’s Nature Maintenance Strategy (CMS), more than 100 plots of public reserves in Otago can now be considered as potential bicycle trails.
The Otago CMS, approved in 2016, listed the areas where bike paths are allowed in the area’s public reserves, but it was primarily just a list of existing trails.
By 2019, Doc had received some suggestions for building new bike paths and bike trucks on public protected land, but because the land they were offered was not listed on the Otago CMS. It could not be formally considered.
John Roberts, Doc’s statutory manager, said the existing Otago CMS did not reflect the growing public interest and opportunity for mountain bike expansion, so a partial review was done.
Otago Conservation Commission (OCB) President Tara Dolce has added another 112 plots of public land, along with most of Otago’s marginal zones and Doc-managed recreational reserves, after approval of a partial review that took effect yesterday. He said it could be considered as a new trail.
New proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the new regulations of the Otago CMS to ensure that conservation and recreational values are maintained, including engagement with Ngai Tahu and consultation with the OCB.
There were about 1750 applications for public consultation.
Pete Makinary, chairman of the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club, said the decision would make it much easier to develop new trails than the previous process.
Mr. McKinary said this wasn’t a natural conclusion, but the new path would be consensus, but at least now we can consider the proposal.
The club has submitted “as many things as possible, such as wishlists and five-year plans.” This was a total of over 20 trails.
“Apply for Doc [for resource consent] For some of these trails, everything is unlikely to go any immediate, so it will be given priority.
“We’re excited about the acceptance of all trail options and look forward to working on some new tracks for local riding … it all seems really positive,” McInally said. rice field.
Mark Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Queen’s Town Trails Trust, is currently abroad and could not seek comment.