This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received an application:
Applicants: Queenstown Trails Trust
Concession Applied for: Licence
Location of proposed activity: Seven Mile Recreation Reserve, Twelve Mile Delta Recreation Reserve and Mt Crichton Scenic Reserve
Summary of Proposal: 30-year term concession for the construction, operation, repair and maintenance of a pedestrian and cycling trail between Sunshine Bay and Twelve Mile Creek/Mt Crichton.
Application documents:
- Applicant Information form 1a (PDF, 692K)
- Structure and facility form 3b (PDF, 317K)
- Site location plan (PDF, 4,300K)
- Proposed trail alignment planset (PDF, 4,100K)
- Environmental Impact Assessment (PDF, 1,500K)
- Ecological Assessment (PDF, 11,200K)
- Lizard survey (PDF, 2,200K)
- Archaeological Assessment (PDF, 14,100K)
- Queenstown Lakes District Council emails (PDF, 957K)
How to make a submission
Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.
Any person or organisation wishing to be heard in support of their submission must request an opportunity to appear before the Director-General. This request must be included in your submission.
Submissions close Friday, 12 December 2025.
Make an online submission
Make a submission by email or post
Form for email or postal submissions:
Send your form to:
Email: DNSubmissions@doc.govt.nz
Subject line: 122741-OTH - Queenstown Trails
Post:
Director-General
Department of Conservation
Ōtepoti/Dunedin Service Centre
PO Box 5244, Dunedin 9054
Attention: Kelvin Brown, Permissions Advisor
You will get a confirmation email or letter when a submission has been received.
Privacy information
Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, you need to state this in writing when making your submission.
What happens next
After submissions close:
- DOC will analyse and consider all submissions and comments on the application.
- A hearing will be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you will be contacted by DOC regarding this.
- DOC will analyse and consider information raised at the hearing if a hearing occurred.
- DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation.
- The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the application.
Hearing details
If a hearing is required, it is likely to occur in January 2026.
Decision
No details at this point. Details, such as submissions and the decision outcome, will be added when they are available.
DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications
The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of this proposed concession on public conservation land. This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concession.
Contact
If you have any questions about the application or the submission process, contact Kelvin Brown, Permissions Advisor. Email: DNSubmissions@doc.govt.nz