Flock Hill Access

I phoned the managers of Flock Hill Station to ask for permission to boulder at Flock Hill and was told that there were new lease holders. I managed to track down one of the new owners of the lease, Mark Fraundorfer, to discuss access for climbers. I have arranged with Mark to post this letter from him on a few bouldering web sites.

Flock Hill Limited
Administration
PO Box 56,
Tauranga,
New Zealand
Ph 07 578 2561 (ext 4)
Fax 07 578 4717
Mobile 0274 954 041
mrf@wave.co.nz
17 June 2004

Phil de Joux
Alpine Clubs
Christchurch.

Dear Phil,

Thanks for the phone call. We have owned the leasehold of Flock Hill for eighteen months and you are the first person with the courtesy to call in regard to climbing on the limestone of Flock Hill. On certain weekend days we have counted (by helicopter) up to 40 people on the property without our knowledge or permission.

Primarily because of legal advice in regard to our OSH liability, we have formulated rules of access to the property. If we charge for access or even accept a donation the person visiting the property is deemed a customer and our obligation becomes one of taking all practicable steps to protect the visitor from injury. Clearly as absentee owners we cannot do this. For this reason we have banned all vehicles from the property as all they do is cut up the tracks and damage tussock. Tracks cost us $18,500 this year just to bring back to a passable state for farming operations after multiple 4 WD and Motorbike treks and as we can't charge track fees we have no intention of having them ruined again. The only exception is the Highland Explorer who maintains the tracks they use and who have an OSH policy in place.

Access for climbing purposes in future must come from recognised organisations such as the Alpine Club you mentioned who will undertake to develop and provide us with an appropriate OSH policy and who will take responsibility for any climbers visiting the property under their auspices. This may include registering with us a list of approved members at the beginning of each year. We would still require our custodians, Terry Murdoch and Andrew Reid of Christchurch Helicopters, 03 359 0470 to be notified of any visits for recreational purposes. Fishing access to Winding stream is now by foot only so don't feel hard done by!

As you also know we have leased part of the property, including Flock Hill, for the filming of a major movie production. During preparatory work, now under way, and until the production is complete we cannot for obvious reasons allow any access to the property. Many of the preliminary markers put in for camera angles etc were pulled out by trespassers and security during filming will be very tight. Production should be complete by December at the latest and we will be enforcing Trespass Notices until then.

I am away until mid July but look forward to working with you to achieve a satisfactory outcome for you and your fellow climbers for the future.

Regards

Mark Fraundorfer

[Edited on 19/6/2004 by philderbeast]

[Edited on 19/6/2004 by philderbeast]