New bike tracks possible

Otago mountain bikers (from left) Phil Oliver, Mark Gould, Dean Medder, Graeme Collins and Chris...
Otago mountain bikers (from left) Phil Oliver, Mark Gould, Dean Medder, Graeme Collins and Chris Gough enjoy a ride on the Prospector course at Earnscleugh Station near Alexandra. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Getting away from it all and enjoying the great outdoors on a bicycle or e-bike has been growing in popularity across Otago.

The Department of Conservation (Doc) has taken note of this and made it easier for new trails to be made.

The New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) has approved a partial review of the Otago conservation management strategy (CMS).

This means an additional 112 parcels of public conservation land will be able to be considered for bicycle track proposals.

Dunedin City Council statutory manager John Roberts said the partial review was undertaken because the CMS did not reflect the increased public interest in expanding mountain biking or the opportunities for this activity.

The CMS was approved in 2016 but by 2019 Doc was receiving multiple new proposals to construct cycleways and bicycle tracks on land not listed in the CMS, meaning the proposals could not be formally considered.

Otago Conservation Board member Tara Druce said the NZCA’s approval of the CMS partial review was fantastic news.

"It offers the potential for people to have new bicycling experiences in scenic settings that are already naturally suited to this activity."

Mountain Biking Otago secretary Greg Bouwer said this was a very positive step and anything that increased consistency and ease of application was wonderful.

"We were previously able to apply to be able to develop trails on those Doc parcels, but the hope is that by adding these to the CMS, the process will be more transparent and straightforward.’’

Doc southern South Island region pou ture whenua, statutory manager John Roberts said Doc encouraged people considering applications to first discuss their proposals with a local office.

Among other things, applicants would need to identify such things as the ecological, cultural and heritage values present, any effects their proposal might create and any measures to avoid, remedy or mitigate any adverse effects.

simon.henderson@thestar.co.nz