FMC lodges submission opposing changes to Queen Charlotte Track
FMC has lodged a submission opposing significant proposed changes to the Queen Charlotte Track.
The Department of Conservation is considering changes to the track, between Torea Saddle and Te Mahia Saddle, due to feedback about the section’s difficulty.
This would reroute 8km of the track off the ridgeline to a lower elevation. FMC is opposed to this route alteration as it would negatively affect the outdoor recreational experience.
The Queen Charlotte Track’s defining feature is its ridgeline alignment, allowing trampers to become fully immersed in the natural landscapes.
Our key recommendations to DOC were:
- Retain the existing alignment wherever practicable
- Consider scenic quality and the outdoor recreation experience in track management decisions
- Use targeted upgrades for maintenance rather than major route alterations
Despite being advised of this proposal after the deadline, we have asked DOC to consider our submission as the national voice for recreational trampers.
We’ll keep you updated. Read the full submission here.
Image: Phaedra Upton
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FMC has lodged a submission opposing significant proposed changes to the Queen Charlotte Track route.
FMC wrote to the major political parties in July, asking what they think about keeping access free for New Zealanders, maintaining huts and tracks, strengthening the Conservation Act’s protections and recognising the value of outdoor recreation.
FMC has lodged a second submission on the Tukituki Water Storage land exchange following DOC's draft report on the proposal.
