Sightseers trespass on Bowenvale land

Press, 12 June 1984, Page 4

Sightseers trespass on Bowenvale land

The eagerness of the Christchurch public to see the Mount Vernon and Bowenvale blocks of land on the Port Hills is concerning the land’s present owner. The manager of the Bowenvale Farming Company, Mr Brent Elder, said yesterday that the number of people wandering on the property, which was still privately owned, was increasing every day. “I'm starting to get motor-bikes and LandRovers on the property now,” he said. Mr Elder said more and more of his time was being spent in keeping an eye on

the trespassers. “I’m not rushing up and ordering them off the land, but you certainly can’t ignore them while they’re wandering around,” he said. Stock had been disturbed, and gates left open, which meant he had had to spend time herding stock. Mr Elder said that some people were walking through the property with unleashed dogs. This was particularly worrying because of the approaching lambing season. - “I just want to appeal to the public to keep off the land until it is in the hands of the Heathcote County Council and the Civic Trust,” he said.

The date for the Civic Trust’s take-over of the Mount Vernon block is January 31 next year, if finance’ has been raised by then. The Heathcote County Council was not due to take over the Bowenvale block until June, 1986. The chairman of the Civic Trust, Mr Graeme Robertson, said yesterday that while he was pleased with such high public interest in the land, he wanted people to respect the rights of the owner. Anyone wishing to see the property could do so on June 24 when an organised walk up the Rapaki Track would take place.