Media release

28 January 2015

Molesworth road to close next week due to fire danger

Due to extreme fire danger, the Acheron Road through Molesworth Station will be closed to vehicles from 7pm Wednesday 4 February.

The Department of Conservation, which manages Molesworth, will be monitoring the fire risk in the station. If it reduces sufficiently the road may re-open during the current open season, which ends on 12 April.

DOC Renwick Partnerships Ranger Clare Moore said early closure of the road was necessary to protect the station’s working farm and outstanding natural and historic features from fire.

“Movement of people and vehicles through the station increases the risk of a fire starting and fire could cause serious damage to the station’s cattle farm, its rare native plants and animals and its historic buildings.

“We regret the disappointment the early closure of the road causes to anyone who’d planned to make the trip through the station and now won’t be able to.”

To find out if the road is closed or open in the weeks up until the road closes for the season on 12 April, people can call the DOC Renwick Area Office on (03) 572 9100 or check with visitor centres in the region.

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