Wānaka’s best kept secret is finally out: Mount Iron is set to become a public reserve in perpetuity for the local community after Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) councillors unanimously agreed on Thursday to purchase almost 100ha of privately owned land at the site.

QLDC has been working with land owner Allenby Farms Ltd for about 18 months to reach the agreement that will see 67ha on the north, west and southern flanks of Mount Iron and land running along State Highway 84, plus an additional 27ha centred on Little Mount Iron, transferred to council ownership and held as reserve for community use.

Wānaka councillor Quentin Smith told the Wānaka App it had been a tough secret to keep and he was relieved and excited to be able to share the news.

“Opportunities like this come along maybe once in a generation. With increasing development pressure around the district, reserves and open spaces have never been so important for community wellbeing,” he said.

What does the purchase mean?

“Mount Iron is literally the centrepiece of Wānaka being a dramatic example of glacial geomorphology with enormous recreational value,” Quentin said.

Currently as many as 180,000 people a year use the existing tracks, according to Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) tracking. 

Council’s purchase of the land will not only protect it from development, it will also open up a range of opportunities such as new walking and biking trails, access to the Little Mount Iron summit, and the potential to improve opportunities for active transport routes near the state highway.

Quentin told the Wānaka App that groups such as Bike Wānaka and the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust are expected to be interested and involved in future development of the area, as well as biodiversity groups like Te Kākano and WAI Wānaka. 

“There are a range of opportunities, some of which we might not have had thought about at this stage,” he said, citing habitat and biodiversity enhancement, and pest control and trapping as well as recreation.

Quentin also pointed out that the new Mount Iron reserve, at close to 100ha, is twice as large as Sticky Forest, and council would allow the development of unique mountain biking tracks among rocky outcrops and kanuka. 

Quentin Smith at the Hidden Hills entrance to Mt Iron. PHOTO: Wānaka App

The reserve connects to a network of green belts and recreational reserves and, Quentin said, the purchase will also protect the entrance into Wānaka. 

“It’s unlikely to end up with hotels and service stations there.”

The Cleugh family

Allenby Farms Ltd is owned by the Cleugh family, which will retain 22ha on the north side of Mount Iron. 

Lynden Cleugh said his family had long seen themselves as guardians of a very special property.

Quentin Smith and Lynden Cleugh PHOTO: Supplied

“We’ve resisted many approaches to develop and commercialise Mount Iron since Laurie and Brian Cleugh bought it in the early 1960s as a farming operation. Since then we’ve spent countless hours keeping the property free of weeds and wilding pines while maintaining a long-term vision that Mount Iron should at some point be managed on behalf of the community. That way everyone can enjoy this special place in the middle of our growing town,” he said.

“We purchased Little Mount Iron in 2017 with the sole purpose of it becoming a public reserve along with the main property. It’s a special gem just waiting to be discovered. We’re very excited to finally announce this legacy acquisition for the community and thank QLDC staff for their shared vision.”

Quentin thanked the Cleugh family for progressing the proposal over several months.

“On behalf of my fellow councillors and Wānaka Community Board members I would like to extend huge gratitude to Lynden and the Cleugh family, and also to the council staff who have helped turn an idea into reality.”

How much will it cost?

That is the multi-million dollar question, and the council is remaining tight lipped about the answer for now.

The Long Term Plan has allocated $516k to establish new tracks and trails for Mount Iron, as well as operational expenditure of $61k per annum to control pests and maintain tracks; $54k in year one only for noxious weed removal; and $20k capital expenditure for signage.

But these are just the operational costs, and Quentin said “the price won’t be disclosed at this stage”.

The Wānaka App asked if the Wānaka Asset Sale Reserve Fund (raised by the sale of Scurr Heights land by the council in 2016; to be used to fund capital expenditure which benefits the residents of the Wanaka ward) would be used for the purchase. The fund, which started at $15.6M, is now down to $9M.

“I won’t comment at this time,” Quentin said, adding that a process of evaluation took place to identify the commercial land value as well as the recreation value of the land.

“The exact purchase price and budget structure will be released in due course in line with due diligence work,” a council spokesperson told the Wānaka App.

What now?

The purchase is now subject to final due diligence.

Quentin said there will be planning sessions with the community to look at the opportunities for use and development of the reserve.

“We’d like to think the opportunities can be improved and enhanced,” he said.

Separate to the agreement with Allenby Farms, council has begun discussions with DOC about the prospect of taking ownership of the remaining section of Mount Iron currently owned by DOC - about 50 more hectares.