Submissions on Lowburn Valley tenure review are currently open, until Monday 7 March 2022.

Lowburn Valley is a 5,815 hectare pastoral lease located on the slopes of the Pisa Range in Central Otago. The land is covered almost entirely in grassland dotted with rock faces and tors, extending from 340m a.s.l. on the Kawarau River to 1,480m a.s.l. on Mitre Rocks. Both the Cardrona – Roraring Meg Pack Track and the Cardrona – Cromwell Pack Track are partially on station land.

Under the preliminary proposal, 1,919 hectares would become conservation land and the remaining 3,896 hectares freeholded, with nearly half protected through conservation covenants restricting activities on the land. The preliminary proposal for the station’s tenure review is available on the LINZ website; it includes information on making a submission. A .pdf file showing the designation plans can be downloaded by clicking on the map below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FMC has written a detailed submission on the proposal. FMC’s recommendations on the proposed new designations are that:

  • the proposed Conservation Area CA1 be adopted, without the proposed farm management concession, which is deemed to be unnecessary.
  • that proposed freehold with Conservation Covenants CC1 and CC4 not be adopted; the land should be merged with Conservation Area CA1 instead.
  • that proposed freehold with Conservation Covenant CC2 not be adopted; the land should become Conservation Area CA2 instead.
  • that proposed freehold with Conservation Covenant CC3 be either adopted in concert with a protective covenant to be placed over proposed Freehold FH2; or that the land be redesignated as public conservation land.
  • that proposed freeholds with Conservation Covenant CC5a, CC5b, and CC5c not be adopted but instead be absorbed into a wider covenant over proposed Freehold FH1.
  • that covenants be placed over proposed Freeholds FH1 and FH2.
  • that all easements for public recreational access, including those in the preliminary proposal and additional ones proposed by FMC, should allow non-motorised foot, mountain bike, and horse access, with or without firearms and/or dogs.
  • that fencing should be established around all protective redesignations except where genuine natural barriers to pastoral and pest grazing animals exist.

FMC encourages clubs and individuals with an interest in the area to consider submitting. A short explanation of who you are, why you’re interested then an endorsement of FMC’s submission is a helpful contribution. Read our submissions resource on Wilderlife to learn why and see examples. Also, it provides tips & tactics when writing your own detailed submissions. The more we can show the managers that we are interested and have a stake in these issues, the more weight our collective voice carries. For more info on this submission or the submission process, please contact FMC President Jan Finlayson at jan.finlayson@fmc.org.nz.

 

Photo at top: Roaring Meg Pack Track, Pisa Range. The southern section of this popular track is on Lowburn Valley Station. (c) Danilo Hegg