shania.funurl.com

Split Raises Fears Land May Be Sold

Singer Shania Twain may not be much impressed with her husband, but some are more worried who might come on over if their split leaves the former couple's Wanaka home on the market.

stuff.co.nz
May 23, 2008
Giles Brown - The Press

The country singer and her spouse of 14 years, Robert "Mutt" Lange, recently announced their break-up, with rumours surfacing it was triggered by Lange's relationship with the pair's Swiss secretary and manager, Marie Ann Thiebaud. Twain, 42, and Lange, 59, were given permission to build on over 24,000ha between Wanaka and Arrowtown in 2005, with restrictions to preserve the environment.

However, the president of the Upper Clutha Environmental Society, Julian Haworth, said he was concerned the land could now be sold into the wrong hands.

"That's what we always said, if Shania leaves there now, anyone could buy it in the future and go through a tenure review," said Haworth.

He said the couple's house at Motatapu Station could become an eyesore if bought by someone with less regard for the area.

"We are not happy with the place at the moment," he said.

"Allowing the house to be built right in that valley in a highly elevated place has an effect on the whole area. It could be passed onto someone who has less sensitive values.

"We are concerned and I think we would say `I told you so'. All these people who said `Shania is wonderful, why would we stop her?' what have they got to say for themselves now?"

In March, a section of Te Araroa, or the Long Pathway, which runs through the singer's land, was opened to the public.

The chief executive of the Te Araroa Trust, Geoff Chapple, said the new section of track would not be affected by any sale of the property.

"I don't think so because the easement will be in place," he said.

Otago Department of Conservation (DOC) conservator Jeff Connell said the couple's company, Soho Properties, had assured DOC it would be "business as usual".

The company had guaranteed the path would not be affected and DOC was going ahead with plans to build a third hut on the track.

When the track was opened, Twain and Lange announced their intention to contribute $100,000 towards a new hut near Fern Burn.

Connell refused to comment on how changes to the house could affect the area if the property were sold.

"I have got no comment to make on the house. I am confident that the walking track and the other conservation-related components of our agreement will continue to be honoured."

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