Dogs force track closure

Public access to the popular Cannon Point walkway in Upper Hutt, will end tomorrow – for the lambing season.

The track, also a favourite for mountain bikers, crosses Martin Bradley’s land and the 75-year-old has had enough of people ignoring the ‘‘no dogs’’ rules

People regularly walk the track with dogs off the leash and uncontrolled near his sheep, Bradley said.

He runs 100 sheep on paddocks either side of the track and often moves stock back and forth.

His property, which has been in the family for three generations, includes the forest hills above the paddocks through to the trig station at the top of the Cannon Point zig zag track.

Access for the public has been in place for decades, an agreement Bradley has allowed with the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

‘‘There’s no legal requirement for me to provide access or even to have have a walking track at all,’’ Bradley said.

On August 23 Bradley was on his property, checking on his stock

‘‘A person came through with his dog off the leash and when I asked him to control it I got absolutely nowhere, to say the least,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve had problems with dogs worrying my sheep for years. I’ve had some real issues. I guess I’ve turned a blind eye to people walking dogs on a leash at times but they keep coming and often they are off the leash, in spite of the signs,’’ Bradley said.

Three years ago a pair of marauding dogs killed a ewe and a lamb and in 2011 a sheep was shot with an arrow.

‘‘I have closed it before, some years ago now. People just had to accept it,’’ Bradley said.

Bradley was building a gate at the track entrance at the rear of the suburban Tulsa Park in California Dr. He would put up a sign with reference to the lambing season as the reason for the closure but would not stipulate any reopening date.

‘‘I can’t say how long it is going to be closed, because the lambing season can stretch out.’’

Regional council ranger Jimmy Young said he was surprised at the move.

‘‘It’s his land and we have to respect that, It’s only been by his good grace that people have been able to ever cross it and, to be honest, he’s been pretty tolerant.’’