A group of quad bikers are being urged to come forward after causing nearly $6000 worth of damage to a popular walking track in Canterbury last week.
Department of Conservation said the group of eight bikers crushed vegetation, trashed boardwalks and left a trail of empty alcohol cans in their wake on the Bealey Spur Track, which is partly in Arthur's Pass National Park.
Vehicles, including quad bikes and mountain bikes, were not permitted on the track.
Warranted officer Lorna Luciani told 1News this was the first report of quad bikes on the Bealey Spur Track and that "everything is suffering" following the incident.
She said it's "hugely disappointing to see this inconsiderate and anti-social behaviour," and wants the people pictured to come forward and speak with DOC.
"The main thing for us is that we'd like to speak to those people that were up there that day on the bikes, that's the main thing for me," she said.
The damage to the track and natural surroundings would cost approximately $5600 to repair.
"Repairing this damage takes our staff away from other critical conservation work, and it’s pretty frustrating for them to see their previous effort and commitment on the job trashed by careless people.
"A Department of Conservation ranger visited the scene this week, and said the riders had clearly left the formed walking track in several locations causing considerable damage to native vegetation and a fragile wetland area.
"Many live tree roots on and next to the track were broken or had a ring of bark removed, and corduroy logs used to protect boggy areas from foot traffic have been uprooted."
Driving a vehicle in any part of the National Park that was not a formed road or campsite was an offence under the Arthur’s Pass National Park bylaws and carried the penalty of an infringement fee of $400 and a maximum fine of $800.
Anyone convicted of an offence against 39(1)(e) of the Conservation Act 1987: knowingly and without authority "interferes with or damages in any way historic or natural features of or on any conservation area" was subject to: in the case of an individual, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding $100,000, or both.
Luciani said the bikers travelled off the track through known great spotted kiwi territory at one point.
She thanked members of the public who already provided information about the incident.
"I'm confident that we're going to be able to get some good leads from the information that is coming in, so hopefully we'll be able to get good results from that," she said.
Anyone with information was urged to contact the Department of Conservation — and it would be kept strictly anonymous.
"We are grateful to those people who are vigilant about protecting our natural spaces and encourage anyone seeing behaviour like this to report it via their local visitor centre, or on the Department of Conservation Hotline: 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)".
The track was popular for both day and overnight walkers. It climbed through native beech forest and crossed pristine sub-alpine terraces with excellent panoramic views over the upper Waimakariri River before ending at the historic musterer's hut built in 1925.
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