Film praise proof landscapes are being protected
REGARDING the new Jane Campion film The Power of the Dog which, by all reviews so far, is set to be a stunning production. Many of the reviews are glowing in their praise for the Central Otago landscapes, and justifiably so.
Our family, and many other families who have farmed high county properties (often for multiple generations under Pastoral Lease arrangements), have been criticised over many decades for the ‘‘degradation’’ of these landscapes.
My hope is that this film production can provide proof that much of that criticism is unjustified. In fact, the landscapes remain the way we all love them because of the careful management of these farming families, in partnership with the Government, over so many decades.
My observations are that protection mechanisms such as tenure review and district plan rules can often lead to poorer outcomes for the high country environment. Increased fire risk and wilding pines are just two examples of this.
The Central Otago high country landscapes have been praised by worldwide film critics, and farming families can be proud of their role in preserving these places. Alastair McKnight
Oturehua
Shared footpath
PEDESTRIANS continue to be plagued by irresponsible cyclists using the shared footpath on Portobello Rd.
A significant number of cyclists give no warning and fail to slow when passing. It is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident. The Dunedin City Council and NZ Transport Agency have created the problem and need to do something to fix it. Guidelines (or bylaws) are needed to regulate the use of the path as a cycleway and these need to be implemented now, not some nebulous time in the future.
We need a speed restriction on the path (30kmh, and 15kmh when passing), that can’t be too difficult — we have one on the road, and an education campaign so cyclists know how to behave.
I would like to know when DCC and NZTA are going to take their responsibilities towards pedestrians seriously and make a move on this.
Macandrew Bay