The Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds (SHPG) has dropped a charge for escorting members of the public through a public easement to the Pisa Conservation Area (PCA) following concerns about restrictions on access to the area.

The PCA’s massive network of connected valleys is ideal for learners and advanced skiers alike, and is popular with snow kiters. 

Department of Conservation (DOC) access to the 23,000 hectare conservation area falls between privatised land belonging to Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds (SHPG) and the Snow Farm.

In July 2002 an easement was created by DOC and SHPG to allow members of the public “full free uninterrupted and unrestricted [access]… at all times by day and by night and to park motor vehicles in the area”.

Signs at SHPG encourage users to use the alternative route to the public easement. PHOTO: Supplied

The SHPG has always required parties wanting to access the PCA to be escorted by SHPG staff across the easement. However, this winter the SHPG put in place a $20 fee (in addition to the $20 Snow Farm road toll) for people to be escorted.

Mountain guide and conservation area user Whitney Thurlow believes the conservation area is not used nearly as much as it would be “if the access was easier and less confusing”.

The SHPG website states that people can be escorted through the easement 24 hours a day, however, some users have encountered locked gates after hours.  

Only two parking spaces are available for the public at the easement pick-up point. When this space is full, users of the easement must park at the Snow Farm car park much further down the hill.

Wetland damaged by public access on the DOC alternative route. PHOTO: Supplied

There is an alternative route for the public to access the PCA a further one kilometre away (1.8km total), which users say is “difficult, unclear and uncertain”.

“When you leave the track, you head uphill in the wrong direction, it goes through a swampy low and it’s very unpleasant walking...,” Whitney told the Wanaka App.

DOC was alerted by a member of the public last week concerning access issues across the easement.

Following the Wanaka App’s enquiries, DOC advised on Thursday (August 5) that SHPG has now confirmed the $20 “escort” fee will no longer be charged.

DOC senior community ranger Nicole Sutton told the Wanaka App that DOC was working with SHPG “to resolve these issues”, and the department also planned to talk with other agencies as well. 

The SHPG did not respond to the Wanaka App’s request for comment.