The Grampians

In 2023 Coterra have been working on the survey for the tenure review of The Grampians.  This high-country pastoral lease is located south of Lake Tekapo and has a size of 16,000 hectares (40,000 acres).  The property is about 25km x 14km and extends from the plains at 500m elevation to the top of the Grampian mountains at 1921m amsl.  The purpose of the survey is to define the new boundaries between land to be restored to full Crown ownership, and land to become freehold.  The survey also defines multiple conservation areas and conservation covenants.  As part of the survey, there are extensive sections of the Hakataramea Pass Road, Haldon Road and Mackenzie Pass Road which need to be surveyed and defined.

Completing a survey of this magnitude has required extensive project management and planning.   We typically had four surveyors working on-site for up to four days at a time.  Using two field crews gave backup safety at all times.   The remote and rugged nature of this property, (significant areas without cell phone connection) required the use of Garmin In reach satellite technology for safety and communication.

The property was initially surveyed in the summer of 1881 and it was fascinating to be the first surveyors to return to some of the old boundary pegs in over 140 years.  Particularly interesting was the boundary line across the top of the Grampian Mountains.  The original surveyor established the boundary before any fence was in place, and instead used lines of rocks to mark the boundary angles.  We were able to locate these rock piles and re-measure these boundary lines with modern equipment.  While there were some differences, it was extraordinary that the original surveyor was able to measure as accurately as he did over such rugged, inhospitable terrain.