A proposed tourism venture would result in limited public access to the Pilots beach reserve in an effort to protect the blue penguin population.
The Blue Penguin Pukekura Trust, a joint venture between the Otago Peninsula Trust and the Korako Karetai Trust, has applied for resource consent for a rural tourist activity at the site.
The site is currently held as a local reserve by the Dunedin City Council, and the trust has applied to lease the land, Otago Peninsula Trust general manager Trust general manager Robyn McDonald said.
The purpose of the application was to protect the habitat of the little blue penguin.
Unlimited access to the reserve posed a multitude of risks to penguins, including the threat of being run over, burrows being disturbed, and distress caused from camera flashes, she said.
To lessen the impact on the blue penguin population, it was envisaged trained guides would take paying tours of up to 100 people to view the blue penguins when they arrived on the beach at dusk.
"While it may disappoint some visitors that their freedom to enjoy the area is curtailed by the proposal, most will appreciate the necessity for protection of the penguin habitat."
Details of access to the reserve, and prices for the tourism product were yet to be finalised, although it was hoped the venture would begin for the 2010-11 season, she said.
Fencing around the area had already begun, and the trust hoped to complete walkways by October and would eventually construct viewing platforms and predator-proof fencing.
Parking, visitor reception and facilities for the tours, which were expected to operate between October and Easter, would be provided by the Royal Albatross Visitor Centre at Taiaroa Head.
Submissions on the proposal close on July 9.
