A Mid Canterbury 4WD club has joined forces with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to restore a hillside at Buicks Bridge, near Ōtūwharekai/Ashburton Lakes. Members funded and planted native trees and shrubs in an area marked by large wheel ruts left by other vehicles.
Club member Bryce Champness spotted the damage while carrying out an Ashburton Lakes bird survey. Rather than leave the scarred hillside for someone else to deal with, he approached DOC about what the club could do.
“I saw these large tyre tracks up the side of the hill, and I thought how can we help fix or hide them as it’s ruined the look of this beautiful valley. We talked to DOC and then got funds from the Southern branch of the NZ Four Wheel Drive Association and away we went,” Bryce says.
The planting is intended to help restore the hillside and discourage further off-track driving there. DOC Community Ranger Stephanie Mercer says she was struck by the willingness of club members to spend their weekend working on damage they had not caused.
“Everyone who came said they’re keen to stop this kind of thing happening in the future, and to do more planting early next year,” Stephanie says.
It is the sort of practical track care that deserves recognition. Four-wheel driving groups can play a valuable part in looking after the places they visit, whether that means staying on established routes, speaking up when they see damage or working alongside land managers to repair it.
Bryce is clear about the behaviour that prompted the planting. “There are some people who don’t follow the rules and give 4WD enthusiasts a bad name. We want to get the message out that there are lots of places you can go and enjoy driving through but going off track in conservation areas isn’t acceptable,” he says.
The benefits of the club’s work should grow with the plants. Stephanie says they were eco-sourced from Arowhenua Native Nursery and Restoration and, as they mature, will provide a seed source that helps native vegetation spread through the surrounding area.
Ōtūwharekai is a significant mahinga kai area for Ngāi Tahu. Its lakes and wetlands are also recognised for their conservation value and support rare and nationally endangered plants, birds and insects. Protecting the landscape matters well beyond the appearance of one hillside.
The club’s response offers a good example for the wider 4WD community: enjoy the tracks that are open to us, respect the boundaries around them and take opportunities to care for the places that make our trips possible.
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