Better information, maps needed under access plan

JONATHAN DOW
Filling the gaps in the Queen's Chain brought farmers, politicians, trampers, fishers and hunters out in Napier last night.
Walking access to and along rivers, lakes and the coast, and across private land to public roads was a hot issue prior to last year's election.
The chairman of the Walking Access Consultation Panel, John Acland, stressed it was not a "revival of the footway proposal", which farmers rebelled against.
The 84 people murmured agreement on the need for better information and maps that outlined just what access rights existed.
Much of what is known as the Queen's chain is in the form of unformed legal road (of which there are around 110,000km across the country) and exchanging unformed legal roads for other forms of legal access was debated last night.
Most people said they were generally happy with the access that landowners granted.
But how access would work where it joined the "new Queen's chain", concerned one hunter.
Mr Acland said later that any new access rights would have to be negotiated with the land owner.
Napier man Neil Peacock, a member of both of Hawke's Bay's four wheel drive clubs, said he was concerned that forestry owners placed locked gates across legal roads.
Bill Glazebrook, who owns Big Hill Station at Kereru, said providing access "to" as well as along public land was a "huge issue".
A code of conduct for people who are using the Queen's Chain has been suggested.
Kevin Simpson, who owns Soulsport, an outdoor adventure company based in Pakowhai, said a code could only do so much, and suggested education instead.
"People who are poaching now are not going to stop because there is a code of conduct. Definitely have a code of conduct - I doubt you're going to be able to put any teeth in it."
The panel has suggested a new "access agency" that would fund the improved access, but how this will work is unclear.
The Walking Access Consultation Panel is receiving submissions until the end of this month.