Created 26 December 2000 - updated 24 January 2001
For background to access issue go to Po 75 Birchwood
PANZ action has now secured public access to the upper Ahuriri valley.
We engaged surveyors to define the location of the two legal roads up valley from the position of the new locked gate. We suggested to the Waitaki District Council that it would be useful for all parties, PANZ, the Council, and Birchwood Station runholder Ron Williamson, if the roads were defined. Council's representative Mark Yaxley agreed and undertook to seek Mr Williamson's agreement for our surveyor and assistant to enter onto the pastoral lease so that existing survey marks could be located. Mr Williamson consented. Mr Yaxley conveyed to us that Mr Williamson agreed that the road was public beyond the cattle yards, and that he would relocate the lock from the yards to his new gate one kilometre up valley. This has now been done.
On 23 December the surveyor, with the assistance of Mr Williamson's son, located historic bridle path and dray tracks. These, in association with the earliest survey plan showing their existence (1891), allowed the surveyor to define these roads' centre lines. They were marked by waratahs (fencing standards). The surveyor also marked the boundaries of the pastoral lease with the State Forest and Unalienated Crown Land (UCL). The positions of roads and boundaries were recorded by GPS equipment. The accuracy is within a few centimetres.
Later that day Bruce Mason of PANZ arrived and walked over all the boundaries and roads with the surveyor so as to be sure of their position. Bruce camped over-night at the new road end and the next day completed marking the access route to the Base Hut via Firewood Bush (follow the yellow markers). This now provides a pleasant walking route to the hut through a mix of beech forest and grassland, with great views up valley to glaciated Mt Barth and the rugged Mt Huxley which dominates the valley head.
Over 4-7 January Bruce completed route marking and the erection of stiles.
For a low-level walking route to the Ahuriri River follow the orange markers. This provides valuable access for anglers and walkers.
Both routes provide quite different perspectives of the valley (the existing vehicle track is boring by comparison). Make a round trip of the new routes - start via Firewood Bush, then follow the fenceline down from the Base Hut to the river, and return via the 'orange' track. Allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours easy walking.
Visitors are now assured of access to this wonderful valley over the summer holiday period.
[Sign erected 14 January 2001. All other route marking and fence stiles complete]
For access routes marked on photograph go to gif file (630k)
