Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is preparing to go into mediation talks with the owners of Sticky Forest in just over a week, tackling an issue which has been described by independent commissioners as a “conundrum provided by the unique set of circumstances surrounding this land”.

Sticky Forest is an area of approximately 50 hectares of private forested land in Wānaka between the Clutha River outlet and the Kirimoko residential subdivision which contains a labyrinth of mountain biking and walking tracks currently accessible to the public.

The forest is held by the Crown for around 1200 descendants of the 57 original Maori grantees who were given the land under the South Island Landless Natives Act.  

In 2017 one of the descendants, the late Mike Beresford (acting as an individual not as a representative of the group), sought to have about 20 hectares of the forest rezoned to allow for residential development.

Sticky Forest is well-used and well-loved by many Wānaka residents. PHOTO: Supplied

The remaining land would retain its ‘rural’ zoning, with an outstanding natural landscape (ONL) classification. 

His submission was rejected by council following the recommendation of an independent panel of commissioners. The decision was appealed to the Environment Court, which requested that Mike’s group and the QLDC enter mediation to resolve the issue.

The mediation talks will take place on Monday September 13.

QLDC chief executive Mike Theelen said early last year the forest could be bought by council using funds remaining from the sale of ratepayer-owned land previously known as Scurr Heights. However, there would need to be a public consultation first, as the purchase was not in the 10-year district plan. 

Planner Ian Greaves, land owner Mike Beresford, councillor Ella Lawton and Bike Wānaka’s Simon Telfer at a Sticky Forest meeting in February 2017. PHOTO: Marjorie Cook/Stuff

Bike advocacy group Bike Wānaka, one of whose priorities is ensuring that Sticky Forest becomes a community asset, recorded over 300 bike movements every day in Sticky Forest over a fortnight in January 2020. 

The group would like the owners of Sticky Forest to consider options whereby the forest remains a recreational asset for future generations. One option it suggested was that the Wānaka community be invited to purchase Sticky Forest, so the owners get financial recompense and the land becomes a recreational reserve that embraces tikanga Māori.

Bike Wānaka president Simon Telfer said it was unfortunate the group was not part of the upcoming mediation process.

“The Wānaka community is now relying solely on QLDC to ensure Sticky Forest remains a recreational asset. QLDC has made it clear to us that it will conduct its own case and our input has not been actively sought,” he said.

Neither has the Wānaka Community Board (WCB) been involved in plans for the mediation.

QLDC communication advisor Sam White said the council had not liaised with the WCB over the issue, because the delegation to consider and settle appeals rests with the QLDC planning and strategy committee and through delegations to council officers. 

“The three Wānaka-based councillors [Calum MacLeod, Quentin Smith, and Niamh Shaw] are all on the planning and strategy committee which enables them to provide direction and background on issues relating to the Upper Clutha, as well as the wider district, as they are discussed in committee,” Sam said.

WCB chair Barry Bruce was approached for comment by the Wānaka App on August 10. He said he would comment on the issue after being briefed by the council, but had not responded by yesterday evening (Wednesday September 1).

Sam told the Wānaka App he was unable to share details of council’s negotiation strategy “because the mediation process is a confidential one under the control of the Environment Court”.

“All parties to the mediation are bound by the same confidentiality rules. If mediation is successful and approved by the Environment Court then details would become public,” he said.