Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication.
Date: 20 March 2019
DOC is amending the CMS to ensure consistency with the new Paparoa National Park Management Plan 2017 and management of activities on the new Paparoa Great Walk, which is due to open to the public later this year.
The Director Operations for the Western South Island region, Mark Davies says, “The new Great Walk is an exciting and highly anticipated addition to the West Coast region. When it opens, we want to ensure people can make full use of it.”
The need to amend the CMS was signalled during the review of the Paparoa National Park Management Plan. The plan reflects the desire of the families of the 29 men who died in the Pike River Mine disaster to create the Great Walk as a memorial and to provide economic benefit to the West Coast community.
The plan was developed in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae, and the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board with input from the community.
The draft CMS amendments will be open for public submissions until 4pm Monday 20 May 2019.
After submissions close, public hearings will be held where people can speak to their submissions. The submissions will then be analysed, which may result in changes to the draft amendments.
The revised draft amendments will then be considered by the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board before going to the New Zealand Conservation Authority for their consideration and approval.
The draft CMS amendments and information about making a submission can be viewed here.
Copies of the amendments can also be viewed at the DOC offices in Hokitika, Greymouth, Westport and Wellington, and the DOC Punakaiki Visitor Centre.
Submitters can choose to speak in support of their submission at public hearings later this year.
More information
The CMS amendments:
- allow mountain biking on the Great Walk
- allow for aircraft landings on the Great Walk to support walkers and mountain bikers allow for aircraft landings in other areas of Paparoa National Park
- allow for sporting and other competitive events on the Great Walk and in other areas of the park
- prevent e-bikes being used on the Great Walk
- ensure these activities and camping, are managed consistently on the Great Walk outside the park.
In addition, the:
- Heaphy Track and Old Ghost Road have been added to Table 5: Roads and tracks available for non-powered vehicle use (page 138 of the CMS), to acknowledge existing mountain bike use on these tracks
- section of the Croesus Track from Barrytown to the Paparoa Track has been added to Table 5. This will enable DOC to better manage mountain biking across the Moonlight Track, Paparoa Track and Croesus Track.
Contact
For media enquiries contact:
Email: media@doc.govt.nz