Commercial and licensed activity on Otago and Southland conservation land accounts for more than a third of the $18 million in concession fees paid to the Department of Conservation nationally.
Documents released to the Otago Daily Times under the Official Information Act show Doc received $18 million in concessions from July 2009 to November 2010.
Over the same period, $6.2 million - ranging from a $6 grazing fee application to a $496,500 "application fee" - was paid by businesses and individuals essentially to rent Doc-controlled land in Otago and Southland, making the Southern region one of the department's top earners.
Doc also received a further $610,000 for processing applications for the Southern region, ranging from a $5 invoice to a one-off application fee of $20,372.
Most revenue earned from concessions came from tourism-related industries, followed by telecommunications, residential and filming.
Doc commercial portfolio manager Harry Maher confirmed all concession revenue was retained by the department and "applied to priority conservation projects across the country, including Otago-Southland".
Concessions were set individually and mirrored market levels, with revenue forecasts indicating "relatively low levels on growth in the immediate future due to current economic conditions".
"But Doc is working on identifying ways to improve the prospects for both business and conservation."
When asked if Doc was trying to increase revenue from its estate, Mr Maher, said, "The department is continually working with business to improve the contribution that conservation can make to business".
"As well as concession fees, many businesses make voluntary contributions to conservation and Doc is actively working to increase those contributions, and ensure public conservation land contributes positively to the New Zealand economy."
However, information released to the ODT shows no concessionaire operating in the Otago and Southland conservancy donated money to the department during the previous 18 months.
Otago Conservator Marian van der Goes said the department had to be "business-like" when charging individuals and companies concessions, but continue to manage and protect a large public resource.
South Island regions dominated concessions granted during the 2009-10 financial year, with Otago recording the highest number (970), followed by Canterbury (685), West Coast (663), Nelson-Marlborough (538) and Southland (453).
Doc concessions
• Concessions are required for business activities in areas managed by the Department of Conservation.
• A concession is a permit, licence or lease that allows commercial activities, organised non-profit activities, occupation of land and the building of structures.
• Fees are charged annually, unless the concession is for an activity over a limited period, such as filming.
