Protected bush reserve envied
Mountain bikers might in future be allowed to skirt around the top of Palmerston North’s fiercelyprotected Turitea water catchment reserve.
The city council is about to review its management plan for the 3500 hectare reserve, including Brown’s Flat and Hardings Park, and is being urged to consider some recreational access to the catchment.
Manawatu¯ Mountain Bike Club chairman Shane Telfer told the council’s planning and strategy committee its review should go further than the proposed focus on biodiversity issues and the relationship with tangata whenua.
‘‘There are significant reational possibilities in area.’’
He said in the 15 years since the reserve’s management was last reviewed, the club’s membership had grown to 800 members, and there was growing demand for more trails.
Allowing use of South Range Rd across the top of the reserve could be a possibility.
Council transport and infrastructure officer Robert van Bentum said council staff were keenly aware of the risks of allowing any further activities in the special-purpose area.
At the moment, the only members of the public allowed access to the catchment area were deer hunters with permits and those carrying out other pest control activities.
There were no toilets in the reserve, and staff were keen to prevent people using the bush and polluting the catchment area with bacteria and protozoa.
The current management plan had allowed access for Mercury to construct transmission towers to connect its Turitea Wind Farm development to the national grid.
Most of that work was carried out by a helicopter drop to avoid having to cut tracks and disturb the bush.
Activity manager for water David Miller said the area was so recthis well managed and protected the council did not have to have a UV plant as part of its water treatment processes.
Any opening up of the reserve would add risks and costs, he said.
Van Bentum said Palmerston North was in an almost unique position in having near total control of its water catchment area.
‘‘If we move to allow public access, we would have to have UV treatment.’’
City councillor Brent Barrett picked up the mountain bikers’ call, convincing the committee public access for biking and running along South Range Rd should be considered when the council consulted about the review.
Barrett said there was no access from the ridge road down towards the main catchment area and reservoir, so there would be little risk of pollution.
He said it was also likely that new drinking water standard regulations would trigger the need for UV treatment anyway.
Cr Lorna Johnson said she understood there could be risks in opening the reserve to the public, but it was also a shame the city’s population had no access to such ‘‘a fantastic reserve’’.
The public will have an opportunity to comment on the management plan review, running alongside consultation on the Kahuterawa outdoor recreation plan review, which will probably take place between July and September.