The scene from a hill in Brightwater at 8pm tonight. Photo: Andrew Board

Nelson council closes access to reserves and tracks

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Nelson City Council is temporarily closing public access to further reserves and tracks.

In consultation with the principal rural fire officer, the council says the key risk is around the safety of people being caught should a fire break out.

“With the extremely dry conditions, prevailing winds, slope and nature of the vegetation, a fire would spread uphill extremely quickly, making evacuation very difficult.”

It says these measures reduce the risk of needing to divert resources away from the current fire emergency in Tasman.

The following tracks and reserves will be closed to the public effective immediately:

CONSERVATION RESERVES

  • Maitai Water Reserve
  • Roding Water Reserve
  • Marsden Valley Reserve
  • Venner Reserve
  • Brook Conservation Reserve, including Eureka Park
  • Titoki Reserve

LANDSCAPE RESERVES

  • Grampians Reserve
  • Tantragee Reserve, including all of Codgers Mountain Bike Area
  • Botanical Hill, including all tracks to the Centre of New Zealand
  • Atmore Reserve
  • Hanby Park
  • Highview Reserve
  • Pipers Reserve
  • Sir Stanley Whitehead Park
  • Tasman Heights Reserve
  • Bolwell Reserve
  • Stoke Reservoir Reserve (behind the Nelson Christian College)

OTHER CLOSURES

  • The Dun Mountain Trail
  • Maitai Walkway from Sunday Hole (Gibbs Bridge) through to the Maitai Water Reserve

Council will advise when it is considered safe to access these areas again. If you see signs of smoke or fire in any reserves please call 111 immediately.