Department of Conservation NZ: Cycling

Posted February 2nd 2016 to the Dominion Post Newspaper Wellington NZ

Years ago our Department of Conservation Rule- makers  thought they could write Rules for the use of our National Parks in Stone.
This was a noble thought for our National Parks to be held in higher regard than the members of the public but sometimes thing got a little out of hand
with Puritanical Ideas. The Idea of Cycling in our Parks seemed repugnant to someone in those days as bringing along with Dogs and Shot Guns on a hike.
But Now times have Changed and the Idea that some parts of some National Parks should be set aside for Cycleways.. And there is a movement that a review of the Rules should be undertaken.
But Perhaps that is not needed as the System currently allows Wheeled Vehicles under permit it seems. I think the Department could with in its own rites  Issue a “Bike Pass” permit for selected parks for a modest price,
covering not just new trails but suitable walking tracks in the Off Season or Special Events...It could help pay some maintenance bills. just a suggestion but Perhaps the Minister in charge might have some helpful comments ? 

 

The Cycle Trail Solution - New Zealand

Posted 25th Oct 2015 to the Fiordland Advocate

 I don’t wish to comment on the State of Cycle Trails in New Zealand today and if they are a panacea..
I don’t think we are on a bandwagon when we ask for the use of our National Park for a new Recreation Resource
And Tourism Product....  It’s been 30 years since the Kepler Track was cranked up and I think we can afford to try something new.
The Trail From Manapouri to Te Anau was a merger of two Ideas.. In the 1990s I mooted that if the Kepler Track was extended to
Manapouri Township so we could have a Bus Service between Towns to service Trampers, Shaun Cantwell was pushing a decade later to
Make a Recreational Cycleway down the Upper Waiau River then someone had the bright Idea to Combine the Ideas and Join the Communities
togeather with a Showcase Fiordland Project. And the odd thing was, at the start... The Department of Conservation was going to drive it.
So really, there was no real downside... In 2007...


A E Nicholson

* Published 29th Oct
 

Frana Cardno - Memorial Walkway

Posted 4th May 2015 to the Southland Express Newspaper Invercargill

Thank you for doing a nice write up on the late Frana Cardno our Colourful ex Southland District Mayoress
I would love to see the District Council remember Frana and Her Husband Murray in a project they both supported: the Manapouri Te Anau Cycleway.
There was one area in question that would be deserving, the Manapouri End of the Cycle Trail had an Easement to the Summit of View Hill set aside
For the Cycletrail and the People of Te Anau and Manapouri.Frana said on Several occasions that the new Moturau Heights Subdivision Needed this yet
It somehow got inadvertently removed by an Council “bungle”. It was Put to the Council that the lake in the Subdivision Reserve Should be named Manuska Pond after Frana’s Childhood Nick Name
And that as the Reserve Parking Area could be easily linked by Walkway to View Hill through the National Park that could then be named the Cardino Walkway making View Hill 360 Panarama  Frana and Murray’s Memorial. Which Would in turn be linked through to the near by Manapouri Te Anau  Cycleway project...

Feel Free to ask the SDC to Comment :-)

*Published page 10 May 14 titled Frana Cardno Memorial  

 

Te Anau - Cycleway Struggle

Posted 10th August 2014 to the Southland Times Invercargill

Thank you for Hannah McLeod's page 3 Story on Aug 8th about the long struggle to get a Cycle way between Te Anau and Manapouri.
People have been cycling in the National Park since they started on the Milford Road... I recall sneaking a push-bike by boat onto the Borland Road in the 1970s before it was open to the Public.

As Kids we use to make regular sojourns out to Supply Bay when that was opened up, keen people could cycle over the Wilmot Pass and nothing unto wards happened. Why anyone would think that Push Bikes are not a traditional way of enjoying the National Park is beyond me. As for the Cycle Trail linking Manapouri to Te Anau..

That was originally a linking of my “Kelper Extension” Track so hikers could choose to exit the Kepler Track to Manapouri Township and Shaun Cantwell’s Desire for a local Bike Trail for sportsmen, health and fitness. But unfortunately on reflection the Idea that such a trail would be a huge attraction made it unpalatable for some key people. It would bring change and change as we know is Scary! Yes if the trail was extended up the Lake Te Anau Shore and out to Mavora and across to Hurricane Passage Lake Manapouri or Down to the Borland Area.. It Would become the Ultimate Bike Ride of the planet (or close second) and our flagging property value would be forced up... About the time we all retire!

Published Page 6  August 13 2014

Southland Times - Around the Mountain Again

Posted 11th April 2014 to the Southland Times Invercargill

Reading Andy McDonald’s Comments on the Round the Mountain Cycle Trail (Apr 5th)
I think to be fair to the Government Funding People, Fiordland Would have got a good shot
at funding for Cycle Trails if the Department of Conservation had put their hand up for some.

But as the DOC didn’t have any plan at all in place for Cycling in or around the Park to tag the money to
so It had to go to Queenstown by default.

Andy is right about the Round the Mountain.. What is the use of cycling along side a road? One might as well go in a car and be comfortable
And you can put your foot down through all the boring parts!

I think the real problem with the Manapouri to Te Anau Trail is that it would be just too easy to build if the DOC use Volunteers and their own people over the Winter instead of putting them off It would Hardly Cost the Government anything at all and that money has to be spent, It would have to be hand Crafted and Asphalted with Jems to cost any-ware near as much as the Around the Mountain job!

Oh and lest we forget, National Politicians will get Southland’s vote what ever they do or don’t, so no pressure for DOC their.

*Not Published