Better status sought for Remarkables

A NATIONAL campaign to upgrade the conservation status of the Remarkables and Hector Range is to be launched by the Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC).

FMC will launch the campaign, the brainchild of Queenstown adventurer Erik Bradshaw and former FMC president Robin McNeill, of Invercargill, in Wellington next Friday.

While FMC hierarchy did not want to discuss the campaign before its launch, Mr Bradshaw said the Remarkables was ‘‘just the front’’ of a massive area of land extending eastwards to Cromwell, Alexandra and the Nevis Valley.

However, the ranges would not work well as national parks, and the goal was to find some middle ground. He gave the example of the North Island’s Te Urewera National Park, which had been given the legal status of a person.

‘‘We’re not saying that’s what we should do here, but it shows in the last few years the Government is open to creative approaches.’’

The Remarkables is home to the NZSkioperated The Remarkables skifield. The company is considering a massive expansion into the Doolans area, over the saddle at the top of the skifield.

Queenstown developer Porter Group plans to build a $50 million gondola from Frankton’s Remarkables Park to the skifield.

Neither company has been briefed on the campaign.

But Mr Bradshaw, who is chairman of the Central Otago NZ Alpine Club and until recently an FMC executive member, said obstructing such development was not the goal.

‘‘It’s quite a contentious issue, but from my point of view, representing outdoor recreationalists, the skifield gets people out there, they’re doing sport, and it covers a very small area.’’

While the campaign was partly about protecting the area from overdevelopment, it was also about the allocation of funding.

The Government had an ‘‘obligation to put money in’’ to national parks, but not lowstatus conservation land.

NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson said it was too early to comment.

‘‘We’ve got a very respectful and productive relationship with FMC, so I am sure we’ll have that dialogue in due course.’’

Developer Alastair Porter confirmed he had not been approached, but said his door was always open.

He supported better and managed access to mountain areas, but it had to be done in a sustainable way, he said.

FMC launches its ‘Remarkable Outdoors’ campaign in Wellington next Friday. A second launch will be held in Queenstown next month. — Mountain Scene