This page last modified 15 November 2001
Po 109 & Po 119
Rock and Pillar Range
Otago Land District
Tenure review approved by Commissioner of Crown Lands
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Po119 Camberleigh
Knight Frank
LAND RESOURCES DIVISION
PROPOSAL FOR TENURE REVIEW
GLENCREAG/CAMBERLEIGH
KFL REF: Po 109 & Po 119
SUBMISSION DATE: 8 July 1997
(1) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Six Mile Creek catchment beneath Summit Rock has for many years been recognised as a focal point for natural values on the Rock and Pillar Range. With two recreational huts situated in the upper levels it is also regarded as a prime recreational area. The Crown has expressed an interest in protecting these values for public purposes since the early 1980's.
Any proposal for protection has a severe impact on the viability of the Glencreag Pastoral Lease, to the extent that should full surrender of the land take place the property would no longer function as a farming enterprise.
Following discussion with the lessees of both Glencreag and the neighbouring Camberleigh Pastoral Lease the Crown has been given the opportunity to consider the two properties together. This proposal pursues this option.
The proposed outcome is for an estimated 1500 ha to become conservation estate with access by way of an easement from State Highway 87 (Middlemarch to Hyde). This would include vehicle access to a parking area 1.1 kms from the highway and then foot access to the conservation area. The remaining 918 ha would be reclassified as farm land and be available for disposal as freehold.
(2) LEASE DETAILS:
2.1 GLENCREAGPo 1O9
Legal Description Lot 1 Deposited Plan 5457 being part Section 1, Block V and VIII, and part Run 213D, Blocks I, IV and V, Strath Taieri Survey District.
Area: 1218.1038 hectares
Lease Details:
Tenure: Pastoral lease
Term: 33 years
Expiry: 30 June 2020
Rent Review: 30 June 1998
Rental Value: $90,000
Annual Rent: $1,350
Crown improvements: Nil
Stock Limitation in Lease: 1400 sheep plus 10%
Personal Stock Limitation:
2500 sheep (includes 2000 breeding ewes)
130 cattle (includes 100 breeding cows)
Overall
3000 sheep (including 2300 breeding ewes)
150 cattle (including 100 breeding cows)
Lessee: N O Grant
Other Land Held: 64 ha freehold flat on the east side of State Highway 87
2.2 CAMBERLEIGH Poll9
Legal Description: Lot 2 Deposited Plan 5457 being part Section 1, block V, and part Run 213D, Blocks IV and V, Strath Taieri xSurvey District.
Area: 1200.2976 hectares
Lease Details:
Tenure: Pastoral lease
Term: 33 years
Expiry: 30 June 2020
Rent Review: 30 June 1998
Rental Value: $120,000
Annual Rent: $1,800
Crown improvements: Nil
Stock Limitation in Lease: 2255 sheep
Personal Stock Limitation:
2700 sheep (includes 2000 breeding ewes)
105 cattle (includes 45 breeding cows)
In addition to the above stock limit this property also supports a horse breeding programme of approximately 50 animals
Lessee: J J and E J Murdoch
Other Land Held: Nil
(3) RESOURCE REPORTS:
3.1 GLENCREAGPolO9:
3.1.1 GENERAL:
Glencreag is situated on the eastern side of the Rock and Pillar Range, approximately 5 km to the north of Middlemarch. The base of the pastoral lease adjoins SH 87. Altitude ranges between 273 1450 m.a.s.l. (the highest point on the Rock and Pillar Range). The property is bonded by Camberleigh Pastoral Lease to the south, Homestead Pastoral Lease to the west, Kilmory to the north and freehold lowland country to the east.
The property has a cool eastnortheast aspect and can be broken into three topographic units flats, moderately steep midaltitude faces and gentler slopes above 1200 metres. Approximately 200 ha are cultivatable. Rainfall averages 500 600 mm per annum on the flat and 1000 1500 mm at higher altitude. The lease has been fenced into three large blocks and numerous paddocks on the flats. Snow lies above 1100 m for 3 4 months of year. Glencreag lacks warm hill country but this is compensated for by productive flats.
Rabbit numbers are low. Hawkweed (especially mouse ear hawkweed) represents a threat to productive values. Reversion to matagouri is a problem; however it is of some value as shelter for ewes at lambing and after shearing. Induced erosion is not a sign1ficant problem.
Estimated breakdown of land use capability for the property is as follows:
| Class lV | 234 ha | 19% |
| Class VI | 426 ha | 35% |
| Class VII | 408 ha | 33% |
| Class VIII | 150 ha | 13% |
Cover:
Sown pasture 126 ha
Unimproved grassland 366 ha
Oversown and topdressed grassland 626 ha
High altitude herbfield 100 ha
Total: 1218 ha
Production:
Lambing average 90 %
Average wool weights 3.5 kg
Calving 85% 90 %
Farming History:
Glencreag was initially a 21 year Otago High School's Board lease issued in 1940 to the McKinnon family. In 1948 Education leases were declared to be Crown land subject to the Education Lands Act of 1949. In 1953 the lease was sold to Ian McKechnie of Omarama. Alexander McKinnon retained an area of freehold which had been farmed with the lease. In 1956 the lease was converted to a pastoral lease under the Land Act (1948) with an associated right of renewal.
From about 1954 an improvement programme was initiated which included cultivation. Initial development involved liming at I one ton to the acre and superphosphate at 1.5 cwt per acre. Development proceeded at approximately 8 ha per year and included the establishment of winter feed crops.
In 1968 the lease was sold to John Charles Grant with 64 ha of freehold with which it had previously been farmed. In 1985 the lease was transferred to his son, Neil who presently farms the property.
The Otago Ski Club and more recently the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club have had a long association with the property. In 1972 the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club became lessee of two huts on the property as downhill skiing had lost popularity in the area due to the continued development of Coronet Peak. The huts are presently permitted under a short term lease.
Glencreag was subject to major reserve proposals which included an extensive altitudinal sequence in the recommendations of the 1982/83 Clayton Committee of Enquiry Pastoral Lands Trial Assessment report. Recent DOC investigations have confirmed and expanded on the extent of conservation interest on the property.
3.1.2 ECOLOGICAL FEATURES (Map A):
Priority I Summit Rock Shrubland (900 1450 m):
Glencreag Pastoral Lease almost reaches Summit Rock, the highest point of the Rock and Pillar Range. The property incorporates a complete altitudinal sequence of the eastern faces of the range.
The summit vegetation is a cushionfield/herbfield/blue tussock mix. There are numerous patches of the sticky daisy (Celmisia viscosa). An endemic daisy to the Rock and Pillars, Celmisia haastii tormentosa is present around tams, streams and late Iying snowbanks, together with a great diversity of other herbs and grasses.
A dense and botanically diverse band of shrubland, with a composition atypical to the Rock and Pillars is centred around the 1200m contour. Common species include celery pine, snow totara, bog pine, Leonohebe species, and Coprosma species. The taller Dracophyllum longifolium occurs with Cassinia on the lower margins of this shrubland. The ridges are dominated by snowgrass (Chionochloa rigida) and a diverse mix of herbs and smaller sedges and grasses. Below ~ 900 m there is less intertussock diversity.
A number of bogs and seepages m the Upper Six Mile Creek Catchment support the small shrub Leonohebe pauciramosa and the rush Schoemus s. At lower altitudes the giant spaniard (Aciphylla scottthomsoni) is a common stream side plant.
The area also contains significant invertebrate values. Insects of particular interest include the large Rock and Pillar weta (Hemideina maori), the large Hepialid moth (Aoraia orientalis) and the flightless chafer beetle (Prodontria capito).
The Six Mile Creek catchment is the type locality for many caddisfly and stonefly species, first collected by the late John Child m the 1960s and 1970s. The aquatic insect fauna on this property is richer than other parts of the range.
The alpine weta, Hemideina maori, which is endemic to the range has two distinctive colour forms, being either yellow (the normal colour) or nonyellow, ie, grading into a black coloration. Glencreag contains populations of the yellow colour form of this species on the rock tors at higher altitudes and the summit crest.
A falcon was seen at 1120 m on this property.
Priority 2 Six Mile Forest (400 900 m)
This area encompasses several deeply incised tributaries of Six Mile Creek which are clothed in subalpine shrubland and good quality snowgrass. From a botanical perspective the most important feature of the area is a forest of mountain holly (Olearia ilicifolia), koromiko (Hebe salicifolia), broadleaf, marbleleaf and Coprosma rugosa which extends from the base of the range up to 720 m. The forest is most intact from 500 to 720 m a.s.l. Apart from the occurrence of mountain holly, the forest is significant for its diversity of fems, lianes (including the uncommon Fuchsia perscandens) and shrubs (including Aristotelia fruticosa very local on Rock and Pillar Range and Hebe rakaiensis).
Seepages beside the main creek support Olearia bullata shrubs and a variety of ferns and sedges.
Below the forest are shrublands of Coprosma species (including C... propinqua), Corokia cotoneaster, excellent stands of native broom (Carmichaelia virgata), cabbage tree (Cordyline australis) and matagouri. Lianes such as Muchlenbeckia and Rubus are also present.
Between 400-600 m there are areas of modified snowgrass interspersed amongst shrublands.
3.1.3 VISUAL AND SCENIC VALUES:
The upper boundary of this pastoral lease is close to the highest point of the Rock and Pillar Range (Summit Rock 1450 m a.s.l). The run is located on the southern side of the range and incorporates the entire Six Mile Creek catchment. This catchment is a distinctive feature on the Rock and Pillars, being a large slumped area that is often in deep shadow.
The lower portion of the lease is of a more gentle gradient. Large gravel fans covered in thickets of "grey" native vegetation, especially matagouri and Coprosma radiate out over the margins of the valley floor.
3.1.4 LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT:
As adopted for other assessments of the high country, this property has been divided into a number of landscape units. The boundaries for each of these units follow marked changes in the local topography and distinguishable changes in ground cover and land use patterns.
Landscapes have been placed into three broad categories:
(1) Natural Landscapes:
Natural ecosystems, containing unspoiled and distinctive geological/physiographic features.
(2) Managed Natural Landscapes:
Predominantly natural ecosystems where some modifications have occurred to native vegetation, usually through the impact of extensive sheep grazing.
(3) Cultural Landscapes:
Land influenced by human uses. This includes historic and intrinsic values.
Landscape Unit 1:
This unit incorporates some of the highest sections of the Rock and Pillar Range. Due to this zones exposure to extreme climatic conditions, the ground cover is very diminutive, comprising mainly Celmisia species and short blue tussock. There are large areas of exposed shallow soils. Along the range crest there is a row of spectacul ar rocks, the most impressive being Castle and Summit Rocks.
Because of the natural character of this landscape unit, and its visibility from many parts of the Strath-Taieri, it is desirable that it be protected from all human impacts. From a landscape perspective future management should be orientated towards conservation. The placement of communication installations on the skyline would be particul arly detrimental.
Landscape Unit 2:
This landscape unit is comprised of a conspicuous shrubland belt which lies between 1300 m and 1000 m a s l, where it grades into snow tussock. The shrublands are dominated by Leonohebe species.
Several tributaries which radiate into Six Mile Creek are sourced in this zone.
The high parallel ridges which bound the property create a feeling of enclosure, which is quite different to the more open character elsewhere on the Rock and Pillars. This zone has very few modifications such as tracking or subdivision fencing. From a conservation perspective future management of this area should be orientated towards minimal impact.
Landscape Unit 3:
This unit is a lower extension of the dark country which lies on the northern side of landscape unit 2. Its primary feature is the broken and angular nature of the terrain, with impenetrable shrublands, incised streams and large slabs of rock. The gullies support tall shrublands which extend down to the base of the range. One of these gullies contains a healthy stand of cabbage trees, a community not found elsewhere on the Rock and Pillars. The lower section of Six Mile Stream has been completely fenced out and the native vegetation is in particu larly good condition.
In common with landscape units one and two, this area remains visually intact with no obvious modifications from past farming practices. From a conservation perspective, future management should be orientated towards minimal impact.
Landscape Unit 4:
This unit encompasses the warmer grasslands on the southern side of the property. Although this area of moderate terrain is favoured for grazing, impacts on the landscape have been minimal. From a Conservation perspective this landscape unit falls within the managed natural landscape category, and should remain as one large block, so as to minimise visual impacts on the vegetation cover.
3.1.5 HISTORIC/ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURES
The Strath Taieri is notable for the richness of Maori material found in rock clefts. Artefacts found in the district are typical of both early moa hunters and classic the Maori. The abundance of artefacts indicates a long period of use and occupation. There may still be rock shelters and caches in clefts which have not been located to date. No actual moa hunting sites have been found on the southern end of the Rock and Pillar Range pastoral leases.
Two stands of cabbage trees are located in Six Mile Creek. They each include: about 20 (mostly mature) trees. Seedlings are absent. These groves are surrounded by dense bracken and low scrub. Such stands are thought by some to originate from Maori plantings. No umu-ti are visible in the vicinity, but it is possible surrounding vegetation may have concealed them. There is a Ngai Tahu tradition of an ancestor who came south planting cabbage trees as he went. Cabbage trees were an important food crop, but their occurrence in Six Mile Creek according to tangata Whenua, indicates wahi tapu.
Pastoral runs on the Strath Taieri were taken up in 1859. Glencreag was originally part of the Strath Taieri run owned by Campbell Thomson, who also held Rocklands Station for a few years.
In 1866, the Strath Taieri Run was subdivided into Run 213A (Garthmyl) and Run 213B (Gladbrook). The Garthmyl Run was further subdivided, creating Glencreag and several other runs to the north along the range. A well maintained hut, is marked on the 1882 run map. It appears to have been the Garthmyl shearers' quarters for a woolshed which has since vanished. The hut probably dates back to the 1870s and is of historic importance. It is L shaped with the wings measuring 13 and 17 metres long and five metres across. The original six pane windows remain intact.
The building was used from 1932 for ski accommodation, with skiers overnighting after arriving on the Friday night train from Dunedin, prior to climbing the range for a weekend's skiing. A stone hut was built on the crest of the range in 1938 for ski accommodation. This hut is now a ruin.
Bullock tracks run into the Six Mile Creek gully. They were probably constructed for dragging broadleaf logs out of the gully for fencing.
A feature dating back to early surveys of Otago are carefully constructed stone based trigs with a metal spike set in the centre known as a bayonet trig. The plinth is usually a wide circle of dry stone walling filled in with soil and rocks. The spike is beaten fiat at the top with the trig letter engraved on it. This is one of the three major types of trig station used from the early days of triangulation. Trig S at GR 812262 on Glencreag is one of four such trigs on the Rock and Pillar Range built prior to 1882.
Features protected by the Historic Places Act as archaeological sites include the wahi tapu in Six Mile Creek, the bullock sledge tracks, the original Garthmyl shearers' quarters and Trig S. The latter warrants registration by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. :
3.1.6 RECREATION:
The Rock and Pillar Range is the "home ground" for club skiing in Otago. Recorded winter usage goes back to 1932 with the formation of the Otago Ski Club. The range was initially used for downhill skiing. The development of Coronet Peak skifield in the 1950s and 1960s, with its better weather, access, terrain and facilities saw the eventual demise of this activity. In recent years cross-country skiing has become well established. Huts located on Glencreag serve as a base for overnight ski trips. The proximity of the range to Dunedin is a major factor in determining its relative importance for winter activities. It is only 80 km by sealed highway to the base of the range.
The frequency of "arctic" weather conditions, especially in winter, on the summit, and the lack of natural shelter dictate that experience in alpine navigation and a knowledge of survival techniques are pre-requisites for winter recreation.
Summer recreation use is developing, with regular tramping trips to the range organised by Dunedin based clubs. Some 4W D recreational use also occurs, involving traverses of the range from the Dunstan Track.
Recreation groups have identified the need for several unrestricted access routes up the eastern flanks of the Rock and Pillar Range. These are required to provide for round trips of a day or several days duration, and to be used as escape routes in bad weather. One such proposed route is located along the southern boundary of the lease to the summit crest. Access would be legalised by way of an easement for foot travel only. There is currently no defined legal access on the lease, other than a paper road through the mid and upper parts of the property. This paper road is finked to other legal roads eg Wandle Road via Kilmory Run and is separated by a short &stance from a legal road which traverses the range crest and provides access from the Dunstan track via McPhees Rock.
3.2 CAMBERLEIGH Poll9:
3.2.1 GENERAL:
Camberleigh is situated on the eastern side of the Rock and Pillar Range, approximately 4 kms to the north of Middlemarch. The base of the pastoral lease adjoins State Highway 87. Altitude ranges between 300 and 1340 m.a.s.l. The property is bounded by Run 213D Pastoral Lease to the south, Carrickmore and Homestead Pastoral Lease to the west, Glencreag Pastoral Lease to the north and freehold lowland country to the east.
The property has a cool east - southeast aspect and can be broken into three topographic units -flats, moderately steep mid-altitude faces and gentler slopes above 1200 metres. Overall there is a reasonable balance of winter to summer country. Approximately 230 ha are cultivatable. Rainfall averages 500 - 600 mm per annum on the flat and 1000 - 1400 mm at higher altitude. The moderately sloping mid-altitude and high altitude portion of the lease has been fenced into three large blocks whilst the gently toe slopes and flats are divided into numerous small blocks and paddocks. Snow lies above 1100 metres for 3-4 months of year.
Rabbit numbers are low. Possums, hares and pigs are present. Hawkweed (especially mouse ear hawkweed) represents a threat to productive values. Reversion to matagouri is a minor problem. Erosion is confined to some wind erosion from exposed high altitude areas and a sporadic widely dispersed gully erosion.
Breakdown of land use capability for the property is as follows:
| Class III-VI | 770 ha | 64% |
| Class VII | 218 ha | 18% |
| Class VIII | 212 ha | 18% |
Cover:
Sown pasture/feed crops 233 ha
Unimproved grassland 684 ha
Oversown and topdressed grassland 283 ha
Production:
Lambing average 90%
Average wool weights 3.5 kg/hd
Calving 85%
Farming History:
The lease was initially only a 21 year Otago High School's Board lease issued in 1940 to the Harold Gorden Officer. In 1949 education leases were declared to be Crown land subject to the Education Lands Act of 1949 and m 1955 the lease was converted into a pastoral lease under the Land Act 1948.
From about 1947 an improvement programme was initiated which included cultivation. Initial development involved liming and application of super.
In 1957 the lease was sold to J W and B G Howell from the Midd lemarch area who farmed the property m conjunction with Kelvin Grove 5 kms to the south and: 70 acres of freehold on the flats adjoining Kelvin Grove.
File information indicates that in 1940 the property ran 1391 sheep. This figure steadily increased during the following decades m response to cultivation, oversowing and topdressing and subdivisional fencing as the property was. Stock numbers peaked at approximately 2620 sheep and 105 cattle in 1987. Numbers have subsequently fluctuated near this level.
In 1964 the Howell brothers split their partnership and Camberleigh was transferred to B G Howell and Kelvin Grove plus 70 acres of freehold were transferred to J W Howell.
The lease was sold to the current lessees J J and E J Murdoch (Mr Howell's daughter) in 1983.
Camberleigh was subject to a reserve proposal including 42% of the top block (24% of the lease) in the 1982/83 Clayton Committee of Enquiry Pastoral Lands Trial Assessment Report for the Rock and Pillar Range.
3.2.4. LANDSCAPE:
The landscape character and values on Camberleigh are similar to those on the neighbouring properties excepting the scale of rocky tors along the ridgeline not as massive as those found on either R213D or Glencreag. This pastoral lease however forms an integral part of the overall homogeneous nature of the Rock and Pillar Range.
For consistency, and as adopted for other pastoral lease landscape assessments, Camberleigh has been divided into a number of landscape units. The boundaries between each unit are defined by marked changes in local topography as well as distinguishable changes in the ground cover and land use patterns.
Landscape Unit 1:
The unit encompasses the crest of the range, at over 1300 metres, down to about 1150 metres. The severity of the climate is obvious with rippled soil, patterns,: depleted ground cover, and cushion plants being apparent. The overall impression of this unit is that it is M important component of a larger landscape type that extends along the whole length of the summit of the Rock and Pillars. This natural and visually sensitive areas is part of a regionally significant landscape.
Landscape Unit 2:
This unit's upper limits follow the rapid grading-in of the snow tussock at about I 150 metres. There is a distinctive band of Hebe spp shrublands separating this unit with Unit 1. Below this woody zone the snow tussock extends down to the next fenceline at about 450 metres. This unit conveys an overall impression of good even tussock with no hard edged changes in land use. There are traces of early burning of woody species, but there are signs of rapid regeneration of species such as Hebe spp, Dracophyllum, and Aciphylla spp in the darker gullies. There are also intact wet flushes usually located just below the distinctive steep drop-off at about 750 metres. Patches of browntop are located on the warmer faces, and there are some sheep camp sites starting at about the 700 metre level.
Generally this block of land has been managed in the past as one "big paddock'' with no visible signs of previous soil disturbances, eg tracking. Just above the bottom fenceline which incorporates the south branch of the Camlet Stream there is prolific c regeneration of broadleaf (the number of seedlings indicate low stocking), Hebe, Coprosma, Aciphylla, tutu, and a single totara.
Similar to the eastern edge of Landscape Unit 1, this unit forms an integral part of the highly visible eastern scarp of the Rock and Pillars which must considered to be a regionally significant landscape.
Landscape Unit 3:
This unit has been highly modified by intensive stocking, however a distinctive feature is the "grey" shrublands, primarily Coprosma and matagouri that have colonised the gravel fan that extends across the valley floor. A strip of the more intact native vegetation along the Camlet Stream is part of an altitudinal sequence of native vegetation from the crest of the range down to the valley floor.
3.2.3 LANDFORMS AND GEOLOGY:
The property is on the steep eastern face of the Rock and Pillar block mountain range which consists of Haast group schistose and Pleistocene - recent alluvium.
Specific geological -geomorphological features of interest on higher slopes include shaft tors, sliding boulders, solifluction terraces, soil hummocks and stone stripes,
The crest is predominantly Teviot and Teviot Hill soils, the flanks Dunstan steepland soils. These are high country yellow brown earths with shallow profiles and friable erodable topsoils. Stone pavements occur in the most exposed sites, with organic soils of the Koherikoau and Alisa series on respective ridge crests and valley bottoms. Maungatua and Lammerlaw series occur on better drained stable sloping sites, Teviot, Carrick and skeletal soils occur on less stable steepland and snowbank.
3.2.2 ECOLOGICAL FEATURES:
(a) Vegetation:
The vegetation on the property occurs as three distinct zones, a high alpine fellfield zone, a mid-zone of tussock grassland shrubland and a heavily modified lower zone which has fingers of remnant original vegetation extending into its especially in the gullies.
Fellfield:
High alpine fellfield, impressive schist tors and snowbanks characterise the highest part of this property. Sparse vegetation of cushion plants such as Phyllacne rubra, Dracophyllum muscoides and Anisotome imbricata are found on the stony fellfield whereas a more lush vegetation grows in the snowbanks including Killeria childii, Phyllacne colensoi, Celmisia haastii tormentosa and Ranunculus enysii. The large tors are covered in numerous lichens with vascular plants in cracks and on ledges. The diminutive speargrass Aciphylla hectori is locally common on ridges along with Celmisia viscosa, C. brevifolia and scattered Chionochloa macra.
Grassland - Shrubland:
Dense snowtussock on Chionochloa rigida together with diverse intertussock species are present from 1055 metres on a bench, up to around 1300 metres. Conspicuous within this is a bank of, at times dense and impressive shrubland. Dominant species are snow totara Polocarpus nivalis, Leonohebe odora, Coprosma ciliata, bog pine, Cassinia fulvida and some Phyllocladus alpinus. The shrubland zone occurs at about 1180 - 11250 metres. The giant speargrass Aciphylla scott-thomsonii grows in damp ground and streams-sides.
This shrubland is significant in the context of the Rock and Pillar Range, being as diverse as any.
At around 1055 metres the ridge grassland becomes distinctly lower in stature, more sparse and with many exotics present as inter-tussock species.
In the deep gullies, taller snowgrass is found with some L. odora, Polystichum vestitum and Astelia nervosa and Coprosma rugosa with increasing quantities of Aciphylla aurea on the rocky ridges.
By 800 metre groves of broadleaf forest grow in deep gullies or on talus slopes, both fire refugia. It is joined by marbleleaf, Gaualtheria antipoda, Cassinia, Olearia bullata and Coprosma parviflora. These patches of forest are not of great significance being small, scattered and having a significant weed problem of Himalayan honeysuckle. From here till the base of the range and on rock fans are large areas of matagouri with significant amounts of O. bullata, and O. Iineata, Carmichaelia petriei, Meublenbeckia complexa and Coprosma propinqua. One kowhai tree was seen at 650 metres, while at least two Halls totara were seen at 820 metres - both species well isolated from other forest species.
(b) Fauna:
The property in common with the rest of the range contains a wide variety of insect species a number of which are endemic to the range notably the large bodied Rock and Pillar weta Hemidiena maori, diurnal undescribed geometrid Dasyuris n.sp. which feeds on A. imbricata and a flightless chafer Prodontria monlii which is endemic to the Rock and Pillar and Lammermoor ranges.
Within the diverse mid-altitude shrubland is equally diverse insect fauna associated with each shrub species. Of particular note was a large 3 cm carabid Mecodima sculpteralum.
(c) Fish Species:
NIWA fish data base have no records for the two steams Camlet Creek and Dewar Stream that flow through the Camberleigh property.
A survey completed for this review produced the following information.
CAMLET CREEK
| Map No | Grid Reference | Fish Species |
| H 43 | 8475 2335 | Salmo trutta (Brown trout) |
| H 43 | 8465 2350 | Salmo trutta |
| H 43 | 8350 2375 | Koura (Freshwater crayfish) |
The stream has had a large amount of water down it in the recent past. This stream has been gutted. It has cut a rut between I metres to 1.5 metres deep in the paddock, and the mud bank is now collapsing into the stream and silting up the whole system, basically destroying the bottom fauna.
DEWAR STREAM
Map No Grid Reference Fish Species
| H 43 | 8275 2345 | Salmo trutta |
| H 43 | 8255 2375 | Salmo trutta |
| H 43 | 8275 2420 | Salmo trutta |
This is far larger and certainly more stable than the Camlet Creek. This is mainly due to the excellent riparian margin. As long as farming practices continue in regards to burning and stock numbers are kept as they are at present. There should be no problems with water quality.
(d) Problem Animals:
Goats, possums, rabbits and hares occur on the property at all altitudes depending on the time of year. None are in numbers sufficient to constitute a problem but some control of all four excepting perhaps hares is required from time to time.
3.2.5 HISTORIC:
Originally part of the large Garthmyl Station but otherwise little of historical note on Camberleigh. The sowburn race passed through the top of the property heading for the Hyde goldfields and the formation is still clearly visible. There is also the remains of an old hut down near the road but no goldmining of significance or important early farm buildings are present.
Trevor Howse has visited the property and will report directly to the Commissioner of Crown Lands on any Ngai Tahu interests.
3.2.6 PUBLIC RECREATION:
The Rock and Pillar Range has a moderately high level of public use mainly because of the proximity to Dunedin. Originally mainly skiing (dated from 1932) use is now greater in the summer but with still a significant level of cross country skiing. Main access was either by true cross-country vehicle just north of Camberleigh or from the Dunstan track by way of legal Crest Road "Subaru type" vehicles or even 2WD family cars in fine conditions this latter route however has deteriorated to the extent that it is also now only suitable for true cross-country vehicles.
The large ski and tramping club hut on "Glencreag" is only 400 metres north of the property and the crest area of Camberleigh is in the higher use tramping and crosscountry skiing part of the range.
There is no tradition of public access either by foot or vehicle on Camberleigh and no potentially important access routes or tracks.
There is a legal road on the property but is separated at each end from both the legal road on the crest and the public road at the foot of the hill. Extending it to connect with either of these roads would form no practical purpose.
There are no marginal strips on the property.
(4) PUBLIC COMMENT:
Glencreag has been in the public eye for a long period of time. When tenure review was proposed both recreational and nature conservation interests were able to quickly provide excellent information and identify conservation needs. These generally included the entire tussock hill country with good access.
When Camberleigh was discussed with the NGO's in March 1997 three matters were raised:
(1) That good tussock cover existed above 800 metres.
(2) That to obtain a practical fenceline the conservation area may need to extend lower than 800 metres.
(3) That public access through the balance of the property was not an issue.
The opportunity to consider a joint proposal was discussed with a number of NGO's on 28 May 1997. The above matters were confirmed. The possibility of freeholding the southern portion of Glencreag to 1000 m.a.s.l. was discussed, but not favoured by the NGO's. There was some acceptance of limited grazing in the lower portions of the Camberleigh Hill block.
During the meeting strong preference was expressed for both the southern and northern foot access routes currently used to be secured for the future. Vehicle access for 1 - 2 kms from the highway was sought to provide more secure parking. Subsequent to the meeting a number of groups expressed a desire for the Crown to acquire the stone cottage (the old Garthmyl shearers' quarters) as a base for use of the Rock and Pillar conservation area.
Trevor Howse representing Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu has visited both properties (Glencreag 1315/93, Camberleigh 27/2/97).
(5) DISCUSSION:
The negotiation of this tenure review has been ongoing for some considerable time. In essence dialogue with the Grant family commenced in 1982/83 with the preparation of the Pastoral Lands Assessment Report following the Clayton Committee of Enquiry. It is important at this point to acknowledge the participation of Neil and Wendy Grant in the preparation of this proposal.
As set out in this report the conservation and recreation interest in this portion of the Rock and Pillar Range is substantial. To continue to investigate tenure review on Glencreag lease on its own was not a viable opportunity. We therefore acknowledge the willingness of John and Joy Murdoch to allow their property to be considered jointly with Glencreag for the purposes of this proposal. Having reached this point the ongoing review regards this as one land unit consisting of both leases.
From a conservation prospective the values identified in the Six Mile Creek catchment meet all the criteria to rank them highly for protection. To the south of this the highest conservation values are contained in land above 1000 metres but important conservation values also extend down to at least 800 metres. For many reasons it is regarded as impractical to fence across the range at 800 to 1000 metres and the existing fenceline which dips to 600 metres is the most practical line to become the lower extent of the conservation area. Variations on these lines have been discussed widely and for various reasons have been discarded. Most importantly a range of options were considered in the Six Mile Creek catchment. These included additional fencing at various positions across the basin. In all cases these excluded the southern most spur and in some cases more than half the lower catchment below 1000 metres. This did not achieve the protection of the range of conservation values contained within the basin and had high associated costs with fencing. As discussed above Option 4 a high level boundary on the Camberleigh portion were not viable due to the high cost of fencing.
Conversely pastoral farming in the Strath Taieri is dependent on having an outlet for grazing during drought conditions. As a general comment when the low terraces and fans are severely affected by drought the mid to high altitude country is at its best. Therefore the grazing system on these properties had been established around the opportunity for mid to high altitude summer grazing, thereby relieving pressure on the lower country. In considering this tenure review proposal this has been a major concern and even with the current proposal involving both properties there are some reservations as to what the new balance of country will create. The willingness of both lessees to consider a rather dramatic proposal is appreciated.
The second issue considered is that of public access. As a result of past tenure review of the southern property of Run 213D public foot access has been provided to the conservation land. The Department of Conservation have also recently acquired vehicle access on an existing track through the neighbouring freehold property of Kinvara. This provides good vehicles access to the current Rock and Pillar Reserve and to the Leaning Lodge hut within Glencreag. Most recreational users do: however gain access through Glencreag and the Six Mile catchment to the two huts on the range. An expired sub-lease used to provide access to the ski hut (the southern most hut) up a spur which lies outside the proposed conservation estate. During negotiations it was felt that the additional impact of formalising this track over and above the extensive conservation area was not acceptable. It is therefore proposed in this report that the foot access enter the conservation area at its lowest point.
For many years the Grant family have generously allowed vehicle access off the highway to an area approximately 1.2 kms further on. It is proposed for formalise this access. Discussions have been held with Transit New Zealand who are assisting with ensuring public safety requirements can be met at the state highway turn-off. The foot access commences at the end of this proposed vehicle access.
The NGO's proposed acquisition of the former Garthmyl shearers' quarters as a conservation base for the entire Rock and Pillar conservation area. This matter was not pursued further with the lessees as at an early stage it had been excluded from discussions.
The extensive conservation proposal leaves insufficient land for two self-supporting farming Two titles will be issued as a result of the tenure review but at this point it is proposed that they be farmed as one unit. A smaller lifestyle unit may be created based around the Camberleigh farm buildings. It is understood that the minimum area for such a unit would be 15 ha.
(6) DETAILED PROPOSAL:
The proposal that has been negotiated is as follows:
(1) The Crown will accept the surrender of the Glencreag lease consisting of 1218 ha. The Crown will also acquire the lessee's interest in Camberleigh consisting of 1200 ha.
(2) The Crown will retain approximately 1500 ha of mid to high altitude land extending to the existing fence lines on both properties. This land has very high nature conservation values extending from mid altitude fescue tussock through extensive snowtussock, through a shrub belt at approximately 900 metres through to alpine fellfields at the crest of the Rock and Pillar Range. This is one of the most significant altitudinal sequences of vegetation in Otago. The proposed conservation area is also of considerable importance to Dunedin based recreational users and contains both the Leaning Lodge and ski club huts (currently both held by Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club). The tramping club will require occupancy rights over these two huts.
(3) An area of approximately 918 ha of low altitude improved pastures and oversown tussock country will be reclassified as farmland and disposed of on freehold title. This land is entirely Land Capability Classes IV and VI and most has been subject to pasture improvement for farming purposes. It is anticipated that this will create a sound farming unit of approximately 3500 su. A lifestyle type unit of 15.0 ha may also be created.
(4) Public vehicle access on an existing farm track will be provided for approximately 1.2 kms from State Highway 87 to an area generally known as the Tin Shed. Parking will be made available at this point. From here foot access will be provided to the nearest point of the conservation area. Given the extensive area being retained for conservation this is considered the more appropriate option.
(5) In order to allow management systems to be adjusted to the new land area it is proposed to allow for emergency grazing in drought conditions over the proposed conservation land. This grazing will be available on application for two seasons during the first 10 years following completion of this agreement. Grazing will be on a commercial basis.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
(1) That you forward this proposal to Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu for comment.
(2) That on agreement from Ngai Tahu you approve advertising of the proposal with the following outcomes being recommended.
(a) The surrender of Po 109 (Glencreag) under Section 145 of the Land Act 1948.
(b) The acquisition of the lessee's interest in Po1 19 (Camberleigh).
(c) The allocation of approximately 1500 ha to the Department of Conservation as conservation estate.
(d) That an easement be registered under Section 7 (2) of the Conservation Act 1987 against the title of land which is currently within PolO9 to cater for vehicle access of approximately 1.2 km and thence foot access to the proposed conservation estate.
(e) The re-classification of an area of approximately 918 ha as "farmland" under Section 51 of the Land Act 1948.
(f) The allocation of approximately 903 ha of land to the current lessees of Po 109.
(g) The sale of approximately 15 ha of land referred on the open market with proceeds returning to the Crown.
(h) The financial implications to be in accordance with the attached report.
Report prepared by:
K R Taylor
Manager, Alexandra
KNIGHT FRANK (NZ) LIMITED
Recommendations endorsed by:
A P Perrett Manager PNA/Pastoral for Regional Conservator
Attached are:
(1) Map of proposal
(2) Map of landscape units
(3) Photographs
Back
to ... Po109 Glencreag
Back to ...
Po119 Camberleigh
Public Access New Zealand
RD 1
Omakau
8 October 1997
Knight Frank Ltd
P O Box 27
Alexandra
Tenure Review: Glencreag & Camberleigh
PANZ supports the proposals provided that the vehicle/foot access is available 365 days per year and is held by DOC as an interest in the land under section 7(2) Conservation Act. These details must be contained in your recommendations to the CCL for his approval.
Bruce Mason
Back
to ... Po109 Glencreag
Back to ...
Po119 Camberleigh
Knight Frank
19 January 1998
Our Ref: PolO9/119
Mr Bruce Mason
Public Access New Zealand
RD I
OMAKAU 9182
Dear Bruce
RE: TENURE REVIEW GLENCREAG AND CAMBERLEIGH
Thank you for your assistance and submission regards the above tenure review.
I am pleased to advise that the Commissioner of Crown Lands has approved the tenure review and his decisions accepted by the lessees. The following outcomes were approved.
(1) The purchase by the Crown of Camberleigh.
(2) The surrender of the lessee's interest in Glencreag.
(3) The allocation of approximately 1500 ha to the conservation estate.
(4) The creation of an easement under Section 7 (2) of the Conservation Act 1987 to provide 1.2 kms of vehicle access, carparking and thence foot access through Glencreag to the proposed conservation estate.
(5) The reclassification of approximately 918 ha from the two leases as "Farmland" under Section 51 of the Land Act 1948.
(6) The allocation of approximately 903 ha of land to the current lessees of Glencreag.
(7) The disposal of approximately 15 ha of land including the Camberleigh homestead on the open market.
The general proposal follows that shown on the maps previously supplied.
Your notes about access were considered and I am pleased to advise that unrestricted access via easements under Section 7 (2) of the Conservation Act was negotiated and approved by the Commissioner.
Yours faithfully
K R Taylor
Manager, Alexandra
KNIGHT FRANK (NZ) LIMITED
Plan of area allocated to DOC
Plan of public rights of way
DOC sign at carpark 'G'
Newly protected tussock grasslands (foreground), Strath Taieri plain (Glencreag homstead in trees in centre), and Taieri Ridge (rear)
