Fishing News >January 2008

Gravel Extraction Scrap at Tucker Beach, Queenstown

A scrap over gravel extraction at Tucker Beach on the Shotover River , just outside Queenstown looks set to go to the Environment Court with Fish and Game Otago arguing for gravel extraction, storage and processing to be stopped.

The gravel operations fall within a 150 hectare Wildlife Management Reserve established for the protection of upland game habitat in 1975.  The reserve includes areas of river bed and banks as well as a wide gravel terrace mostly covered in low scrub.

As well as upland game hunting the area is used for other recreational activities but gravel operations dominate the river bank – the area with the most recreational potential – and adversely impact on habitat and amenity values.  Fish and Game has proposed that it take over day to day management of the reserve from DoC given that its original purpose was protection of game bird habitat and hunting opportunity.

Back to Reel Life