Waipa River off limits to dogs

An Otorohanga man is angry access to the Waipa River and areas adjacent to the Otorohanga stopbanks has been restricted.

Otorohanga District Council has granted grazing licences over the land, which means residents must gain permission from licence holders before entering the area.

Terry Price says he has enjoyed 25 years of unimpeded access to the Waipa River for recreational purposes, and is outraged this may not be possible in the future.

"A friend was fishing in the river when he was told he was trespassing and ordered to leave," Mr Price said.

"This is land that the people of Otorohanga have had access to for years. People enjoy lots of activities down there. Kids swim there, fishermen often use the river, and lots of people like to take walks there."

Mr Price said he had frequently walked dogs by the river when he ran a dog obedience school.

He said the area was an. ideal place to take dogs. "They love it down there. It's a nice place for them to have a run around and a swim. There isn't really anywhere else like it around the town."

ODC general manager David. Hall said when the licenses were granted, no provision had been made for public access to the river.

However, he said as far as he was aware, the main licence holder was prepared to allow access through his section of land."

The issue really comes down to having dogs arnong stock, and at the end of the day this is not a dog exercise area," M r Hall said.

"You simply cannot have dogs among stock.

"If people want to wander across the reserve and that area, there isn't a problem, but we have to draw the line with dogs, and people have to respect that."

Mr Hall said he had received reports that dog faeces were responsible for abortions among some of the stock grazing the stopbanks.

He said the money council received from the grazing was used to offset the costs of maintaining the stopbanks and the river channel.

In response to criticism about erosion due to the heavy grazing along the stopbanks, Mr Hall said the council monitored the area regularly and took whatever action necessary to prevent damage.

District merger - let's get logical

Letters and articles written recently have endeavoured to distract from the recommendation of the Local Government Commission regarding the proposed merger of the Otorohanga and Waitomo district councils.

Nothing is going to be perfect, but perhaps it would be worthwhile to get the views in balance.

Sound logical reasons for the merger are:

• Otorohanga and Waitomo are two of the smallest (by population) district councils in the North Island. Financial savings would be gained by amalgamation, eg economy of scale. We have a natural regional area with a community of interest, eg health, welfare and education.
• The two main centres, Otorohanga and Te Kuiti, complement each other. Many people travel each way every day, a mere 15 minutes drive.
• This North King Country region, formed with the amalgamation of the two councils, share similar Maniapoto iwi cultural connections.
• A very sound economic base, eg farming, tourism; forestry, mining. Many of the fears and objections raised by Otorohanga residents can be reduced by:
  i) A system of differential rating;
  ii) increased dairying in the Waitomo district increasing land values; and
  iii) Inframax Construction Ltd contributing large profit to Waitomo District Council.

In conclusion, we have one of the blessed regions of New Zealand, great climate for farming, great tourist attractions with potential for large growth, mining of limestone has great future potential, plus vast coal re sources in the Mokau area, and large forestry tracts still to come on stream. To get the full benefits this region has to offer, we must administer and promote this region with one voice.

The separate councils were formed over 100 years ago, when strong risen with vision opened this land up.

Now we have the opportunity to go forward for the next 100 years, making prosperous land for our children and children`s children.

Regional areas of New Zealand are becoming stand-alone entities.

We have to compete strongly against other regions for venture capital and business, which can't be achieved by divided loyalties.

Brian Pitts Brown
Waitomo