Land Information NZ (Linz) placed the second of two statutory notices in Saturday’s Otago Daily Times, informing "Richard Lancaster" and descendants the ministry planned to seize his 955sq m section overlapping Rongahere Rd in Beaumont.
Linz requires the section, which is part paddock, part sealed public road, in order to ensure continued access for residents on the remaining section of Rongahere Rd, which has been closed where it meets State Highway 8 as part of work on the new Beaumont Bridge.
Waka Kotahi NZTA is building a $25million, two-way replacement for the existing, 136-year-old, single-lane bridge crossing the Clutha River in the town.
A Waka Kotahi spokeswoman said the agency’s efforts to find an owner of the land, at the intersection of Westferry St and Rongahere Rd, had been unsuccessful.
"Our sources tell us that Richard Lancaster — its last registered owner — died in Perth, Australia in 1900. His last known offspring who we have been able to trace died in the 1950s.
"We believe there may be no successors alive and the advert is part of a process we are legally required to follow."
She said the Public Works Act provided a process for the agency to acquire land where there was no owner at all or no living owner.
The agency would welcome contact from anyone with additional information.
Were owners to be identified, they would be compensated under the Act.
The Clutha District Council’s website values the section at $35,000.
A Rongahere Rd resident, who did not wish to be named, said, at present, the paddock was used for grazing by nearby landowners.
He was not aware the section included the road.
"There are a couple of properties up there, and I understand a new boat ramp will be installed as part of the bridge project, so there has to be access, I guess."
He did not know of any Lancaster relatives locally.
The notice says interested parties have 20 days to contact the Environment Court from its date of publication, March 11, and register any objection to the seizure.
