Mt Richardson to Lees

I got round to waling this track a few weeks ago. The map compares the formed track (red) with the legal roadline (purple). Pretty close (but no cigar). The formed track is within 20m of the legal line at all times as you descend to flats. Once on the flats the legal road splits, with one branch cutting diagonally across paddocks, and easily followed within the legal roadline. The other branch cuts down the 'wrong' side of the fenceline in thick scrub and would require cutting to be followed. I followed the fenceline to the river - figuring the cocky would rather I did that than cut right through his paddocks - legal road or no. That said, the legal line is definitely followable from the boundary to the river, and it would be realistic for someone more local than myself to cut & mark the legal line from Mt Richardson to the river. Or maybe to enter into a WAC-mediated discussion with the cocky about the merits of a club doing track cutting & marking down the legal roadline vs the merits of the cocky accepting an easement down the formed track. From a more local experience, WAC seem good at mediating these discussions. It turns out that they have the power to force the landowner to fence the legal roadline at their own expense if they fail to cooperate ... the presence of which stick hopefully leads to cooperative discussions. Map is here: https://tramper.nz/16337/mt-richardson-to-lees-valley/

@madpom: So you didn't manage to get permission and just took your chances? Thanks for your information. I get the feeling that DoC aren't that keen to spend time and money on mediation for easements these days but I can raise it at the DoC Recreational User Group meeting in June.

I've a mate dealing with a cocky via Walking Access Commission over a legal road close to where I live. WAC have told the mate that if the cocky refuses to recognise the legal road and allow it to be marked with warratahis they can force the cocky to fence it off at his own expense. Now that's a) buy in to the cause; and b) leverage. Certainly wouldn't describe it as 'not interested'

BTW the address you & Doc gave for the cocky was out of date. Correct address us: leesvalleystation at gmail dot com Did hear back from the cocky a week after I'd finished the walk. But in the absence of a reply figured I'd do my best to walk the legal road line.

Thanks for that email address, Madpom. I'll send them an email to clarify what land that email address covers and whether it is the replacement email for the Grasslands contact address. I see De Bourbles is very nearby but I wasn't sure if they were one of the 9 farms that formed Grasslands. That was Lyn Russell's farm I think and she would be well over retirement age by now.

I did hear back from Sarah Ensor in DoC. She confirmed the Lees Valley address as being the replacement for the Grasslands one and asked me to try and ensure the message was out there.