New wilderness area proposed

Press, 21 December 1976, Page 13

New wilderness area proposed

The Westland National Park board has recommended that the Douglas River catchment at the southern boundary of the park be declared a wilderness area by the National Park’s Authority. The board would also like the headwaters of landsborough Valley to be added to the W.estland National Park, and become part of the Douglas wilderness area. “This addition will in no way’ affect pastoral production on the West Coast,” said the board's chairman (Mr C.S. Christie). “But it will protect botanical, glacial and scenic features within the valley which are not found in the park at present.”

The board has received a report of depth testing of Lake Wahapo, which shows that the effect of siltation of the

lake from the Waitangitoana Rivei has altered the depth of the bed of the lake. "Arrangements are being made to monitor the changes more accurately,” Mr Christie said. Since Labour Day weekend, there had been a steady increase in the number of visitors to the park. Ranger staff had been busy with hut and track maintenance for the influx of visitors expected over the holiday season. Mr Christie said that a gang had spent 10 days clearing the Copland track from the foot of the Zig Zag to Welcome Flat hut. so this track should be in good condition for Hampers. He advised all those climbing and tramping at higher altitudes to seek advice and notify rangers at Franz . l ox or Mount Cook before setting out on their trip.