Mount Iron Reserve Management Plan Newsletter #13 - QLDC

Welcome to our latest newsletter about Mount Iron Recreation Reserve in Wānaka.

What’s the latest?

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to share ideas and insights to help guide the development of a Reserve Management Plan for Mount Iron and Little Mount Iron. We’re in the process of collating and summarising all the valuable feedback and will be sharing our findings in January on Let’s Talk.

You may find it interesting to know that over the eight-week engagement period we had 639 contributors add 870 online pins and comments to an interactive map, 581 post it note comments from engagement events and over 60 participants join us for workshops.

There will be further opportunities to get involved in this project next year when we share the draft Reserve Management Plan for public consultation.

Little Mount Iron trail ready to explore

Trail signage has now been installed on Little Mount Iron and walkers are welcome!

The trail is an existing but old track on Little Mount Iron that connects Albert Town from Old Racecourse Road (Access Point 5 on map) through to Wānaka at Hidden Hills Drive (Access Point 4 on map). The views off the top are incredible. Check out the route on the reserve map below.

Please be aware the trail is an old farm track which means its steep and rough in places and isn’t fully formed. Walkers will need to follow the signs and orange markers to navigate the trail safely.

Summer reserve closures possible on
Mount Iron

Mount Iron will be subject to potential closure this summer, in response to an increasingly high risk of wildfire.

The reserve is already subject to a year-round total fire ban, and new reserve closure protocols will be introduced when fire indices reach extreme levels.

Our climate is changing which means we need to change and adapt. Globally we are experiencing warmer temperatures, more droughts and windier conditions, all potentially increasing the length and severity of fire season.

Mount Iron is a great place to visit and enjoy. But as hot, dry and windy conditions set in over summer there may be days where elevated fire danger means its unsafe. Closing the reserve on these days means all appropriate steps are being taken to remove the potential for ignition to occur and reduce the risk to life or property.

Every day there could be thousands of people enjoying the area and as we’ve seen both locally here in New Zealand, and internationally, wildfire can have a devastating effect.

Reserve closure and activity management procedures have been developed to provide guidance to contractors, staff, leaseholders and the community on how to assess wildfire risk, identifying clear trigger points to activate a closure.

Along with introducing reserve closures, we’re in the process of installing an environmental monitoring system to help us monitor the conditions within the Mount Iron Reserve. We will also be introducing new signage and supporting Fire and Emergency NZ to amplify community education on fire safety and risk.

A new web page has been set up to include the status of reserves and when a closure is put in place, QLDC will immediately notify the community.

Notification will occur through onsite signage, media release, social media, community txt alert, the QLDC website and direct communication to groups such as business chambers and regional tourism organisations.

Are you a regular visitor to Mount Iron?

Here's how to stay up to date:

Sign up for community txt alerts: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/do-it-online/community-text-alert-sign-up/
Follow the QLDC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/QLDCinfo/
Visit: www.qldc.govt.nz/managing-wildfire-risk

Update on the Environmental Monitoring sensors

The environmental monitoring sensors are to be installed in December and will be operational in late February 2024. The environmental data from these sensors will provide reserve users with real-time information data on pollen count, air quality and weather conditions to help improve their recreational experience while using the while enjoying the area. Five pole-mounted environmental sensor units are to be installed around Mount Iron.

The information from the sensors will be available on an app to help people understand and adjust to changing conditions, and assist in early fire detection too.

Find out more about the project at https://www.qldc.govt.nz/your-council/major-projects/environmental-monitoring-system

Shared pathway being built

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, is funding and building a shared pathway from Anderson Road to the Three Parks roundabout along the Wānaka-Luggate Highway 84 at the base of Mount Iron.

The three metre wide pathway will provide more opportunities for safe walking and cycling and will connect with other pathways in the area.

The topsoil and the deer fence that has been removed from alongside the highway will be reused in other parts of the district.

The project works will progress in stages throughout early 2024.

Have a question or keen to find out more?

We’re happy to answer questions you may have about the Reserve Management Plan, and we’ve got an online Q&A portal available on our Let's Talk page. Check out the questions others have submitted and the answers, or ask your own question here. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

For more details on this project, head to Let's Talk or the QLDC webpage.