This page last modified 22 February 2000
Po 253
Pisa Range
Otago Land District
Approved tenure review notified by Commissioner of Crown Lands
17/2/00
Back to ... Po 253 Queensberry Hills
[Submissions closed August 1, 1997]
Knight Frank (NZ) Limited
SUBMISSION TO COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS
KF REF: Po253
Application Date: 2 February 1994
Queensberry Hills is a relatively small pastoral lease on the northeast corner of the Pisa Range on the Cromwell to Wanaka Road (State Highway 6). It has a sunny aspect with a low rainfall.
Most of the property is highly modified through past pastoral management practices and areas of DOC interest are limited. Proposals for this property including the following:
(i) Transfer approximately 100 ha consisting of a high altitude block to the Department of Conservation which will form a contiguous area with adjoining proposed DOC land.
(ii) That an area of kanuka highly visible from State Highway 6 which has been identified as RAP B3 is to be fenced and retired from grazing and transferred to the Department of Conservation.
(iii) Public foot access will be provided from State Highway 6 up an existing formed track (or adjacent to it) which will give practical access to DOC land.
(iv) A conservation covenant will be established over the berms of Sheepskin Creek to protect the habitat of a native galaxid species. This covenant will also include approximately 20 ha of shrubland adjacent to the creek.
(v) There will be additional rabbit netted fencing around the areas to go to DOC to protect them from rabbit invasion, and one stock management fence.
(vi) A small area of Special Lease known as S361 is located within the property (BCL translator). The lessor's interest will be transferred as freehold to the lessee of Queensberry Hills as a tidy-up action and to reduce the Crown's administration costs.
Term: 33 years from 1 July 1993
Expires on: 30 June 2026
Current Rental Value: $225,000
Current Annual Rent: $3,375
Area: 3063.3695 hectares
Lessee: E R Brown
3.1 PROPERTY REPORT:
Climate: Typical semi-arid Central Otago with hot dry summers and cold winters. Annual rainfall in the lower areas only 480 mm but with a steep attitudinal variation to around 1250 mm on the highest parts of the property. Most of the winter rainfall occurs as snow on the higher areas. Falls down to the homestead occur most years but, the property is below the altitude to hold a permanent winter snowcap. Predominant wind is the northwest and the lower terraces have an annual soil moisture deficit.
Altitude: The property runs from 150 metres a.s.l. near the homestead to 1218 metres a.s.l. at the highest point with approximately 200 ha being above 1000 metres.
Shelter: Natural contour and remnant shrubland.
Water: Stock water is supplied from natural streams water races and several irrigation water holding dams.
Soils: Soil details were obtained from Soil and Water Conservation Plan No 145. They are mapped as follows:
- Carrick, Carrick Hill
- Tawhiti Hill - Blackstone Hill Intergrade
- Blackstone, Blackstone Hill, Arrow Steeplands
- Cairnside Cairnside Hill, Roxburgh Steepland
- Conroy, Conroy Hill, Alexandra Steepland
- Koinga Steepland
- Clyde
- Luggate
- Queensberry
- Pigburn
Contour: There are a number of flat areas on the property being predominantly the area between the Cromwell /Wanaka road and the Clutha River as well some of the lower terraces. Soils in these areas are generally shallow and prone to drying out. There is a significant area of rolling land being terraces and fans up to the 500 metre contour and these are deeply dissected by five stream catchments. Above the 500 metre contour topography steepens to the top of the property at 1218 m.a.s.l. The whole property lies to the sun and is prone to summer drought.
Land Use Capability: This has been derived from Soil and Water Conservation Plan No 145. When this plan was compiled the property was larger in area.
The land classifications have been estimated as follows:
Class III & IV 213 ha
Class VI 1150 ha
Class Vll 1700 ha
Total Area 3063 ha
Zoning: The property lies within two District Council areas:
(a) Approximately 2263 ha is in the Central Otago District. It is zoned Rural 1 under the Vincent County Council District Scheme which has been adopted by the Central Otago District Council. Rural 1 zone is a general rural zone that covers most of the rural lands in the county. In addition to farming and other uses associated with agricultural use of land, provision is made for a range of Conditional Uses. The Existing Use of the property is listed as a Predominant Use under the Plan.
(b) The remaining area of approximately 800 ha is in the Queenstown-Lakes District and the same Vincent County District Scheme is the operative scheme for this area. Zoning is Rural 1.
A new Queenstown-Lakes District Council proposed District Plan was publicly notified on 10 October 1995. The area within this district is zoned:
(a) Rural Downlands which covers a small area below the Luggate-Cromwell road.
(b) The remainder is zoned Rural Uplands. The purpose of the Rural Uplands zone is to provide for extensive pastoral farming as well as opportunities for recreation, tourism, treplanting and mining.
However the zone anticipates that these activities will be carried out in a way that protects and enhances nature conservation and landscape values of the zone; sustains the life supporting capacity of the soil and water resources; maintains acceptable living and working conditions and amenity of residents and visitors to the zone; and ensures that a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities remain available within the zone. The current use would be a Permitted Activity within that zone.
General: Queensberry Hills is a small pastoral property in the Upper Clutha Valley situated on the Cromwell to Wanaka Highway. The property is typified by short tussock grassland interspersed with kanaka. Unfortunately much of the better quality land which was once run in conjunction is now under separate ownership.
Rabbits have had a major impact on this property and most of it is considered to be of moderate to high rabbit proneness. The problems with rabbit control have required the extensive modification of rabbit habitat and particularly the burning of kanuka areas. It is likely rabbit control will always be a significant expense on the property.
Weeds include briar, matagouri and kanuka.
Cover consists of approximately:
30 ha Border dyked pasture
40 ha Dryland Lucerne
990 ha Oversown and topdressed hill -partly maintained
940 ha Native country
Almost all of the property has been significantly modified in the past, through grazing by rabbits and sheep and burning.
Improvements are adequate with good fencing and tracking. The buildings consist of an older dwelling, good wool shed, haybarn and implement shed.
Production: The current personal stock limitation approved in June 1992 for the pastoral lease only consists of:
4000 Sheep including not more than 2200 breeding ewes
250 Goats
There are approximately 281 ha of adjoining lease run with the property.
Current stocking consists of:
2523 Merino ewes
870 Ewe hoggets
830 Wether hoggets
970 Wethers
50 Rams
5245 Total Sheep
15 Cattle
250 Goats
This equates to around 4700 su. The pastoral lease alone would run around 4300 su.
Stock performance is above average for this type of property with lambing averaging 96%, deaths of approximately 4%. Ewe wool is between 19 and 20 microns on average and wool weights average 4.6 kg/ewe. Hoggets are 3.3 kg/head and wethers 5.2 kg/head.
3.2 CONSERVATION RESOURCES REPORT:
Summary of Significant Conservation Resources:
The pastoral lease contains the following features:
Landforms: On the eastern and north-eastern fault face of the Pisa Range, one of the major Haast schist block mountain ranges in Otago. Originally smoothed by the Clutha glacier, the face has since been dissected by the catchments of Sheepskin Creek, Poison Creek and Edward Burn, leaving numerous rock outcrops and bluffs. This together with the vegetation, particularly the remnant kanuka shrubland, are the main features that contribute to what is regionally significant landscape.
Vegetation: Queensberry Hills is a mosaic of differing vegetation communities with the bulk of the property being highly modified though with scattered pockets of indigenous vegetation remaining throughout the property.
These scattered pockets are valuable contributors to the landscape. In addition, three significant areas remain:
(i) An area of remnant kanuka dominated shrubland of approximately 20 ha at the southern end of the property identified as Pisa RAP B3 in the 1984 PNA survey.
(ii) An area of shrubland in lower Sheepskin Creek again of approximately 20ha.
(iii) A block of about 100 ha at the highest part of the property which is still in predominantly indigenous vegetation though heavily modified from its original state.
Aquatic Vertebrates: Sheepskin Creek has high numbers of an undescribed flathead Galaxid. The population appears in good health with a wide size range and is the largest known population of this fish in the Upper Clutha area. This makes this water course and the associated berm vegetation of high significance.
Historic Sites: There are a number of minor sites associated with the gold mining period on the property but although they form part of the overall complex relating to the substantial poison flat workings, none of the structures on this property are themselves of major significance.
Recreational Use: There are some quail shooting around the briar/shrubland areas and a substantial amount of recreational rabbit hunting.
The present owner has also allowed almost unrestricted fishing access to the Clutha River though recent problems have led to this being reviewed.
The main recreation feature is the vehicle track passing through Queensberry Hills and three other properties to Lake McKay and the Pisa Crest giving one of the best and most direct routes to the crest and the northern end.
3.3 MINERAL RESOURCES:
Queensberry Hills is in a district well known for its historic gold mining.
There is evidence of water races fed from creeks on the property as well as minor gold workings from the past. It is understood that some prospecting took place looking for extensions to the Bendigo reefs on the otherside of the Clutha Valley as well as small alluvial workings in Sheepskin Creek, Edward Burn and around Poison Creek. Full details of these are in the conservation resources report.
Existing mineral resources on the property are unknown.
3.4 TOURISM RESOURCES:
Queensberry Hills is located adjacent to SH6 which enjoys high tourist numbers as it is the main route between the resorts of Wanaka and Queenstown. The tourist use of the property itself would be negligible.
There is some use of the property to gain access to higher altitude parts of the Pisa Range and for quail or rabbit shooting.
3.5 FORESTRY RESOURCES:
There are no plantations and few shelter belts planted on the property. Generally this location is unsuited to forestry due to the low rainfall and distance from suitable ports. Although pine trees grow in this environment there are many more suitable areas for forestry production.
(4) PUBLIC CONSULTATION:
An early warning meeting with NGO's (non-governmental organisations) took place on 14 September 1995 which discussed this and a number of other properties commencing the tenure review process. The question of public access to the transmitter sites was raised as well as the usual generic one of the re-classification of Class VIle land.
4.1 NGAI TAHU CONSULTATION:
The Te Runanga Ngai Tabu representative Mr Trevor Howse inspected the property on the 26 February 1996. Te Runanga Ngai Tahu will report directly to the Office of Crown Lands regarding any Iwi cultural interest when requested.
(5) DISCUSSION AND JUSTIFICATION:
A Conservation Resources Report for Queensberry Hills was provided to Knight Frank on 15 May 1996, by the Department of Conservation. This formed the basis of early discussion from which this proposal has been developed.
Queensberry Hills forms part of a larger picture of a newly emerging mosaic of tenures and protected areas over much of the Pisa Range. At this time tenure review is underway over the entire range and many outcomes have been agreed. The outcomes on this property must fit closely to those of neighbouring properties. We are confident that this is being achieved.
5.1 DOC RECOMMENDATIONS/PROPOSED OUTCOMES:
The Department of Conservation's summary of their preferred outcomes suggest that the tenure review on Queensberry Hills should recognise the following:
(a) Top Block of approximately 100 ha be retired from grazing and transferred to DOC.
Comment:
This has been agreed by the Lessee. This area will be retired from the signing of the Heads of Agreement. Three sides will be rabbit netted.
Easements across this area over the existing formed track will be given in favour of the existing runholder to allow vehicle access. It is proposed that a lane-way be constructed across the bottom of the block to facilitate stock access as it is felt important that stock have no rights to be in the DOC area.
In practice the lane-way could have its own problems at this altitude so the fence will be moved down to create a small block.
The Top Block has a moderate degree of rabbit infestation. The lessee plans to undertake rabbit control over this and surrounding areas in the winter of 1997. It is important that this area is controlled and is subsequently rabbit netted as ongoing rabbit control costs will be low. Historically rabbits invade due to pressure from below and an effective fence will prevent this.
(b) The area shown as B3 on the attached map be retired from grazing, boundary fenced with rabbit netting fence and transferred to DOC as a conservation area. Easements be established giving DOC vehicle access for management purposes and the public foot access.
Comment:
This has been agreed by the Lessee, however the Lessee will require both vehicular and stock access through this area as it separates two parts of the proposed freehold. A public foot access route of approximately 40 metres will be required from State Highway 6 at the south end of the RAP B3.
Whilst this will provide legal access if required in future, practical access will be along the nearby track.
(c) That a public access easement be established shown on the map, for vehicles as far as Point B and foot access from there to the conservation area.
Comment:
Access from State Highway 6 to the airstrip just above the TV translator is desirable and has been agreed by the Lessee. This however is difficult to provide in practice. The lower portion of this road has recently become freehold to Contact Energy and includes part of the formed road. The remainder of the road is covered by a right of way in favour of BCL. Both of these parties are required to agree before formal legal access can be provided. As well as this vehicular access has its own difficulties.
Road maintenance is expensive and ongoing and is not something that the Department of Conservation wishes to become involved with. Vehicle access will undoubtedly result in significant damage to the road during wet periods and the road would soon become difficult to use. Problems with the Occupational Safety and Health Act also complicate matters. Whether this access is for vehicle or foot use is as yet unresolved.
Under this proposal foot access and mountain bike would be assured either on or in the vicinity of the existing road all the way to the DOC land.
(d) The conservation covenant be put in place on Sheepskin Creek from the proposed conservation area upstream to 500 metres altitude.
(i) Restricting removal or disturbance of vegetation within 10 metres of the creek except for maintenance of existing crossings.
(ii) Requiring DOC approval of minimum flow levels in the event of any irrigation or water supply draw-off.
(iii) If the catchment is connected to the irrigation dam GR G40 177966 the brook char present in that system to be removed or prevented from migrating into Sheepskin Creek by DOC approved fish stop. If cattle numbers increase to the extent that they significantly damage the banks of Sheepskin Creek DOC would be permitted after consultation with the owners to fence off substantial sections of the berm.
(iv) DOC to be granted vehicle access for management purposes.
Comment:
The Lessee is generally in agreement with these provisions however she may require a number of new farm vehicle access points to be identified and there are concerns about leaving adequate stock water. There is also the potential here to draw off water for future stock and irrigation purposes and to this end the Lessee wishes to have the right of constructing a dam close to the boundary of Sheepskin Creek.
Any dam in this area would likely at some future time attract the release of trout which would see the destruction of these glaxids. Any storage facility would thus be opposed however the other requests would have little effect on the protection of the glaxids. It has been agreed that some minimal stock water draw off for up to four troughs would not be opposed. This would be necessary if the berms of Sheepskin Creek were fenced (cattle only fencing proposed).
(e) The shrubland area in the lower Sheepskin Creek to transfer to DOC as conservation area be fenced off and retired from grazing.
Comment:
This is a small area of some 10 to 20 ha and as it forms part of the catchment to be protected by way of covenant over the riparian areas. We see covenant protection rather than ownership of the kanuka vegetation as being the best option. We believe for the small area involved it would achieve the same outcomes. This area would not be fenced as continued grazing would have little impact on existing kanuka.
(f) Easement granting foot access for the public to be established formalising the existing fishing routes.
Comment:
The Lessee would not agree to this proposal and she had good reasons for this.
The main access route is through her homestead and yard track and from there crosses into Contact Energy Land. The second route is mainly on land owned by Contact Energy but farmed in conjunction with the pastoral lease. These access points if formalised could in the future have a major impact on the development and value of this land. The Lessee is happy to continue with the current situation where the access points are marked and used on an informal basis.
Additional Proposals:
(g) It is proposed that no adjustment to the rental for the pastoral lease be made from the date of retirement of areas from grazing until the property is formally surrendered/freeholded.
(h) Areas rabbit netted on the boundaries with the proposed freehold are to be maintained for a period of 2 years by the Lessee. It was felt that the Lessee is in the best position to deal with areas where the rabbits might test the fence during this period. This maintenance commitment by the lessee does not include significant damage to the fence where normal shared costs will apply.
(i) The TV translator is sited on a Special Lease 5361 with an expiry in 2008. This land was originally surrendered from the pastoral lease. It is proposed that it now be freeholded with the surrounding land. The income from the Special Lease is minimal and it would overcome the situation of a small separate tenure within the new freehold. The Special Lease would remain but in effect the lessor would change.
This is seen as a tidy up action to reduce the Crown's administration costs, but it will only be done with the consent of the Special Lessee (who appears happy with this).
(j) The lessee is to have an input into the location and wording of any public signage.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
(1) To accept surrender of Po253 on the lease anniversary date following completion of the survey plan and necessary documentation, or sooner by agreement.
(2) To agree to the allocation of approximately 120 ha to the Department of Conservation as Conservation Land (Top Block and RAP B3).
(3) To agree to provision of a public access easement (non-vehicular), over portion of the 4WD track passing the TV translators.
(4) To agree to the provision of a conservation covenant over parts of Sheepskin Creek covering both riparian areas and an area of kanuka vegetation, under Section 77 of the Reserves Act 1977.
(5) To agree to rabbit fencing round the Top Block and around RAP B3, as well as a stock management fence.
(6) To agree to transfer the lessor's interest in Special Lease S361 to the lessee as freehold land.
(7) To agree to re-classify an area of approximately 2943 ha as farmland under Section 51 of the Land Act 1948 and preferentially allocate to the current lessee.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Hamel 1990:
Historic and Archaeological Sites on Mount Pisa and Queensberry
Otago Catchment Board:
Soils and Water Conservation Plan No 145
Signed for Knight Frank (NZ) Limited:
Consultant Manager / /
Agreed by the Department of Conservation
Approved/Declined
Commissioner of Crown Lands
Back to ... Po 253 Queensberry Hills
CONSERVATION RESOURCE REPORT
INTRODUCTION
A small run property in the upper Clutha Valley situated 20 km south of Wanaka on the WanakaCromwell highway. The pastoral lease title, which is the majority of the property, contains 3063 ha and runs from 250 m altitude near the homestead to 1,218 m at the highest point with only approximately 200 ha being above 1000 m. There is a useful area of easy terrace land at lower altitude and over half the property is only moderately steep or easier in contrast to the much steeper properties further south on the Pisa face. All of the property is within the Pisa ecological district and was surveyed under the Protected Natural Areas programme in 1984, Three areas were recommended for protection. RAP B2 on an area since transferred to ECNZ, RAP B3 of approximately 20 ha, and approximately 30 ha of a 50 ha RAP B4. The property has been extensively modified over a long period to the point where only limited areas of high natural values remain.
LANDSCAPE
Queensberry Hills Pastoral Lease forms part of the north and north east slopes of the Pisa fault block mountain range.
Landform and vegetation cover are the dominant characteristics which contribute to the landscape character of this property.
The landform is characterised by a gentle ridge and gully system typical of the north face of the Pisa Range. A terrace extends from the toe of the range to the Cromwell Wanaka Highway. The terrace is undulating and rocky in places and slopes to the north and north east. It is widest at the Luggate end and narrows towards Queensberry.
The terrace escarpment rises abruptly above the highway and is more or less continuous from Luggate to the TV mast spur. Some sections of the rocky escarpment (notably south of Luggate and either side of Poison Creek) are impressive and include steep and overhanging rock buttresses combined with kanuka shrubland. Vegetation on Queensberry Hills is a mixture of remnant kanuka shrubland, depleted fescue tussock, exotic grasses and with some matagouri and briar.
Kanuka shrubland is considerably modified from its original cover and is confined to rocky and steeper areas, gulleys and in pockets across the lower slopes of the main range and the terrace. However, viewed as a whole, there is still suffcient kanuka remaining to impart a distinct indigenous character. Kanuka shrubland is very important in emphasising local character and to identify what makes this part of Central Otago different from other parts. The kanuka shrubland is therefore very important to the landscape character of the Upper Clutha Valley.
Lucerne is established on easier country on the terrace. Other man-made elements present include one or two haysheds, dams, fences and farm tracks. The lower slopes of the main range are prone to erosion with some gulling and sheet erosion evident.
At higher altitude the landform consists of smooth rounded profiles of gently undulating 'hillocky' ridges with scattered rock tor outcrops. Vegetation is high alpine cushionfield and short tussockland. Dracophyllum muscoides cushionfield contrasts strikingly with blue tussock (Poa colensoi). Golden spaniard (Aciphylla aurea) is extensive and appears to occur in a distinctive belt. Snow tussock is confined to small isolated pockets.
The north east face of Queensberry Hills Pastoral Lease is similar to the north face. Short tussock at higher altitude gives way to fescue tussock; kanuka shrubland and other species occur in patches from the highway to the mid slope area, also generally confined to rocky outcrops, gulleys and steeper areas.
The main visual and scenic values stem from:
1. The distinctive natural indigenous character derived from the combination of landform, geology (ie, Central Otago schist rock) and the homogeneous kanuka shrubland which occurs in this landscape type.
2. The scenic values associated with the schist rock bluffs and dominant kanuka vegetation as viewed from the Cromwell Wanaka Highway.
The north and north east slopes of the Pisa Range are prominent in view from most parts of the upper Clutha Valley. The hills are most visible away from the Cromwell-Wanaka Highway, eg, from the Luggate Tarras Road.
The remnant kanuka shrubland is therefore very important both to the landscape character and to visual and scenic values.
GEOMORPHOLOGY
The property is on the eastern and north eastern fault face of the Pisa range one of the major Haast schist block mountain ranges in Central Otago. Originally smoothed by the Clutha glacier the facade has since been dissected by the catchments of Sheepskin Creek, Poison Creek, Edward Burn and two other unnamed catchments. The run also contains a small part of the distinctive outwash terraces characteristic of the lower slopes on the eastern side between the range and the Clutha river.
The main soil types are:
While there are numerous rock outcrops and bluffs there are not the spectacular cliffs and tor formations of further south on the range.
There are no recorded geopreservation sites on this property.
CLIMATE
Typical semi-arid Central Otago with hot dry summers and cold winters. Annual rainfall on the lower areas is only 480 mm but with a steep altitudinal variation to around 1250 mm on the highest parts of the property. Most of the winter rainfall occurs as snow on the higher areas with falls down to the homestead occurring most years, but the property is below the altitude to hold a permanent winter snow cap. The predominant wind quarter is north west and the lower terraces have an annual soil moisture deficit.
VEGETATION
Queensberry Hills lies within the Pisa Ecological District (ED) as part of the broader Central Otago Ecological Region. The Pisa ED was surveyed as part of the Protected Natural Areas Programme (PNAP) over the summer of 1984/85 and recommended that two areas on this property should be protected. These recommended areas for protection (RAPs) were described at Pisa B3, Poison Creek, and Pisa B4 Alfern Creek. Both these RAPs were considered to be only second priority RAPs as it was considered that similar communities were better represented elsewhere. Since 1985 the RAPs have been reassessed as part of the PNAP implementation, and also as part of the tenure review investigation.
Queensberry Hills is a mosaic of differing vegetation communities. The bulk of the property has been highly modified with scattered pockets of indigenous vegetation occurring throughout the property.
The RAP of Poison Creek (B3) is the only significant area of indigenous shrubland surviving at a lower altitude on the property. This steep terrace is dominated by kanuka Kunzea ericoides with secondary species such as matagouri, Coprosma propinqua, Corokla cotoneaster and Melicope simplex. The latter is relatively uncommon in the ED.
The vegetation elsewhere on the property largely follows topographical zones and productive use has been made of easier and more fertile country. The lower flats and rolling slopes have been largely OSTD or have been cultivated. Around the lower margins of Sheepskin Creek, (area A) kanuka, matagouri, toe toe and flax Phormium tenax form an interesting enclave of vegetation around an old miners' cottage. Elsewhere on this lower country scattered bushes of kanuka, matagouri and briar occur in amongst the pasture.
On the lower hill country to about 550 m these gentler slopes are covered predominantly in pasture grasses with ribbons of kanuka in gullies or scattered plants amongst the grassland. Patches of hard tussock Festuca novae-zelandiae persist throughout this belt. At the southern end of the property the slope steepens at a lower altitude but the vegetation pattern of remnant kanuka, burnt kanuka, matagouri, briar and pasture is repeated.
Above the 550 m contour the slope steepens as it rises towards the back of the property at 1218 m. With the exception of approximately 140 ha this area is highly modified with the majority of the area having been OSTD in the past. This area is a mixture of pasture grasses, fescue tussock, Poa spp., and the very occasional single tall tussock Chionochloa rigida. Smaller plants of Leucopogon fraserii, Pentachondra pumila and Celmisia viscosa persist over the area, along with extensive areas of Aciphylla aurea. The small area of 140 ha in the southwest corner of the property is still predominantly in an indigenous, but modified state. The area is primarily blue tussock Poa colensoi, Aciphylla aurea with patches of Celmisia viscosa and Maori onion Bulbinella angustifolia.
Part RAP B4 Alfern Creek was described in 1985 as occurring on Queensberry Hills. Since then farm development has seen a further modification of this area, so that only three Halls totara Podocarpus hallii growing on rock outcrops survive today. The vegetation described in the PNAP report survives on the adjoining property.
FAUNA
Fish Species and Location
Sheepskin Creek: Two sites on Sheepskin Creek were fished with the same fish species present at both sites; an unde scribed Galaxid species, one of the non-migratory Otago flathead galaxiids. The fish were in average to high density and a good size range of individuals were present, especially at the upper site. The largest fish was 125 mm, equal to the maximum recorded length for this species.
Irrigation dam and water-race: The irrigation dam was fished around the shallow margins amongst weed beds and boulder cover for approximately 50 m. No fish were collected but fish were rising in the dam further from the shore. The water race feeding the dam was fished for approximately 30 m and brook char were collected. Three individuals were young of the year and two further fish were adult of between 150-250 mm.
Poison Creek: Poison Creek was fished in the lower reaches with no fish being collected. Invertebrate numbers, especially mayflies, were high in this section.
Un-named stream between Poison Creek and Edward Burn: Three Galaxias brevipinnis were collected from one bedrock riffle in this stream immediately above State Highway 6. Fish size range was wide, 70-130 mm, fish condition varied with the largest individual appearing to be emaciated.
Conservation Values
The presence of high numbers of the flathead Galaxid in Sheepskin Creek gives this stream the highest conservation priority on the property. The apparent decline of this species in the upper Clutha River area means protection of remaining populations is of a high priority. The population in Sheepskin Creek appears in good health with a wide size range of individuals present and is the largest known population of this fish in the upper Clutha area. The lack of any other fish species in Sheepskin Creek, the permanent year around water flows and a relatively low stream gradient mean that considerable fish habitat is present and the population survival probability is high.
The water race and irrigation dam have no conservation value, both are artificial habitats and have a self sustaining population of brook char present in them. Poison Creek also has limited conservation value with no fish found, the invertebrate fauna although abundant appeared to be Deleatidium mayfly species common in most streams. The irregular water abstraction regime and the steep stream gradient make Poison Creek poor habitat for most fish species.
HISTORIC RESOURCES
The relevant history of the Queensberry area. along with brief descriptions of the geology and vegetation, are summatised in Ritchie's reports to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (Ritchie 1980a, b). He notes that there was little to attract Maori groups to these dry windswept terraces and the known prehistoric sites were ovens, find spots and an occasional rock shelter, now mostly destroyed. There are none shown on the map of recorded historic sites.
Queensberry Hills was part of the original Mount Pisa Run until 1924. It did not include the homestead site and it is unlikely there were significant farm buildings associated with the nineteenth century run on the property. None were discovered during the survey. There are, however, a number of historic sites relating to goldmining. See the attached map of recorded historic sites.
The Sheepskin Creek complex (No 139) consists of a small race running from a reservoir on a saddle between Sheepskin Creek and Dead Horse Creek to feed small alluvial workings in Sheepskin Creek. The reservoir is through the boundary fence on Lake McKay Station and is presumably fed by a race coming down out of Dead Horse Creek. The water runs from it on a low aqueduct, 1.5 m high and 150 m long through the boundary fence.
This race is probably very old and for most of its length is certainly very faint - only a 5-10 cm deep furrow about 50 cm wide. It runs on easy slopes in a wide U curve for about two kilometres into a gully of Sheepskin Creek. About 500 metres downstream of this gully there are some over grown workings (No. 140), described in a previous survey as small mounds adjacent to the creek with elderberry bushes nearby.
The following sites belong to the Poison Flat water system. A stone lined reservoir (No 216) high on a terrace allowed water to be impounded and then taken by a small race (217) running north from it into or across House Gully to race 229. The reservoir is not on Queensberry Hills but it is fed by a race (222) which is, coming down the flat from the gorge of House Gully. This race is 1 m wide and 80 cm deep near the reservoir. Where this race begins at GR124989, a second race (No. 221) runs off on the true left of the creek and away to the north. It was lost in kanuka shrubland but appeared to be heading for the Poison Flat tailings. Near its intake there is a possible tent or hut site 4 x 3 m. Both races appear to have been piped within the gorge, their line being marked by a bench rather than a trough.
Above the race intakes, a site located during a previous survey included a mine drive, some prospecting pits and angular mounds stretching for 30 m up the bank of the creek (No. 223). The drive and pits are thought to have been excavated about the turn of the century by miners looking for the extension to the Bendigo reefs on the other side of the Clutha Valley (Ritchie 1980b:27). There was a short section of stone walling at the mouth of the drive and, about 10 m downstream of the drive, a crescent shaped depression with sections of stone walling. Downstream of the drive, two small mounds of tailings, sluicing hollows and 30 m of race (No. 224) leading to them were described as Chinese workings of the 1870s by the previous owner of Queensberry Hills, Mr W J Willson. Although forming part of the overall complex relating to the substantial poison flat workings, none of the structures on this property are themselves of major significance.
EXISTING LAND STATUS
The subject part of the property consists of one pastoral lease title There ate no legal roads or marginal strips within the title and Department of Survey and Land Information did not consider any of the creeks required the laying off of marginal strips at lease renewal.
RECREATION/ACCESS
a Access
One of the best vehicle access routes to the northern end of the Pisa Range passes largely through this property. This road is passable to 2WD vehicles as far as the communication mast collection (approximately 3 km) while the rest of the track to the top boundary (another 5 km) is good 4WD standard. For approximately 1 1/2 km of this distance the track is through the fence in the adjoining Queensberry Ridges property. From the top boundaries it is still another 8 km to Lake McKay and 10 km to the range crest.
b Uses
There is some quail shooting around the briar/shrubland areas and a substantial amount of recreational rabbit hunting. The present owner also allows almost unrestricted access for fishing on three routes mainly not on the pastoral lease. Other than this recreation is not a major issue on this property and there is also not the potential of other nearby holdings for increased use.
EXISTING MANAGEMENT
The most significant problem plants are Hieracium and Briar. The only animal pest of note is the rabbit which is a major threat on this property. Over 2500 ha carried a moderate or high rabbit prone classification under the rabbit and land management plan.
Heavy grazing and burning in the past plus development for farming by topdressing, oversowing and cultivation has resulted in most of the property being substantially modified.
ATTACHMENTS
a Map of areas of conservation values
b Relevant extracts from PNA report on Pisa ecological
district
c Map of historical sites
Back to ... Po 253 Queensberry Hills
Public Access New Zealand INCORPORATED
R D 1 Omakau 9182
Central Otago
Friday, August 1, 1997
Ken Taylor
Knight Frank NZ Ltd
P O Box 27
Alexandra
Dear Ken
Submission on Queensberry Hills Tenure Review Proposal
We have benefited from an earlier field inspection. Please convey our thanks to the lessee for her consent to this.
There is very little of conservation interest left on the property. We believe that the proposals for reservation and covenanting are adequate. We do not believe that further land protection is desirable.
The main public interest in the property is in obtaining access to the tops via the 'TV Translator' road. There is an unfortunate conflict of position in the report which only recommends a non-vehicular easement, whereas the body of the report talks about vehicle and non-vehicular access. The recommendation (#3) is not explicit on the extent of the easement, referring to "passing the TV translators". We also note that the lessee is agreeable to vehicular access, which is most welcome.
We are firmly of the view that the Crown must secure public rights of vehicle, foot, cycle and horse use over the road, between State Highway 8 and the boundary with Queensberry Ridges at the airstrip. This appears to be the only opportunity to provide vehicle access within cooee of the northern tops of the Pisa Range. This route is all the more important because of the obstruction of the previously negotiated access through Waiorau and the likelihood of forever increasing demands for $'s to use the Waiorau road. In view of this experience we do not trust toll arrangements. Any vehicle access rights secured through Queensberry Ridges must entail other financial arrangements between the Crown the road maintainer, if such are required.
We believe that there is very little for the Crown to gain out of this deal except the securing of public access. If vehicle and other access cannot be secured, we believe that no deal should proceed.
In view of a recent wacky reinterpretation by the CCL of his decisions concerning access on Waiorau, it is imperative that in your final recommendations concerning access, that the recommendation is explicit. The route, the start-point, the end-point, the proposed legal status of the access, and the means and rights of public use must be spelt out, otherwise the Commissioner may claim in future that he did not agree to what you have negotiated, irrespective of what you record in the body of the accompanying report!
Yours faithfully
Bruce Mason
Researcher and Spokesman
Back to ... Po 253 Queensberry Hills
Notification of CCL's decision
Our Ref: Po253/1
17 February 2000
Public Access New Zealand
RD 1
OMAKAU 9182
Dear Sir
RE: QUEENSBERRY HILLS TENURE REVIEW - ADVICE OF COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS CONSENT
Thank you for your submission on the draft Queensberry Hills tenure review proposal.
The proposal attracted 29 written submissions.
The Commissioner of Crown Lands has approved the following outcomes in relation to this tenure review:
(1) The surrender of Po253 under Section 145 of the Land Act 1948.
(2) An area of approximately 100 ha of high altitude land will be retained by the Crown and transferred to the Department of Conservation to be held under the Conservation Act 1987.
(3) An area of approximately 30 ha of kanuka identified as RAP B3 will be transferred to the Department of Conservation and held under the Conservation Act 1987.
(4) Public foot, bicycle, horse and vehicle access will be provided up an existing formed track to where it passes into the neighbouring Queensberry Ridges property. The portion adjacent to Contact Energy land at the bottom will be unformed at this stage although Contact Energy have agreed to informal public use over their land containing the formed part of this track. This will be an easement under Section 7 (2) of the Conservation Act 1987.
(DoC will pursue formalising vehicle access through Contact Energy Land). DoC will be responsible for maintenance required on the track as a result of public vehicle access.
(5) A conservation covenant will be established over an area of kanuka and the berms adjacent to Sheepskin Creek under Section 77 of the Reserves Act 1977 (to protect native fish).
(6) A public foot access easement will give access to the RAP B3 area under Section 7 (2) of the Conservation Act 1987.
(7) Access in favour of the proposed freehold will be formalised under an easement over an existing track through RAP B3 and through the top area of conservation land.
(8) An access easement over the proposed freehold will allow DoC vehicle access to RAP B3 from State Highway 6.
(9) A public foot and vehicle access will be provided from State Highway 6 along the boundary of the property to the Contact Energy land adjacent to the Clutha River. This will be an easement under Section 7 (2) of the Conservation Act 1987.
(10) The freeholding of approximately 2943 ha of land suitable for reclassification under Section 51 of the Land Act 1948 which will be preferentially allocated to E R Brown. This is subject to easements formalising the existing transmitter sites.
(11) Fencing and improvements will be constructed as follows:
- Netting of an existing fence around the Top Block.
- The RAP ring fenced with netting.
- Adjacent to the translator track.
- A fishing access laneway.
- A vehicle access crossing off the state highway.
(12) It is recognised that the lessee will be responsible for the maintenance of the rabbit fencing for 2 years after construction at the lessees sole cost. This does not include significant damage to boundary fences where normal shared cost will apply.
Thank you again for your submission. We believe public submissions are an important to enable the Crown to consider your views.
Yours faithfully
T J Whittaker
for Manager, Alexandra
KNIGHT FRANK (NZ) LIMITED
