Southland Conservation Board members yesterday discussed the
concession system for Milford Sound air access, seeking a
course of action to appease users of Fiordland National Park
and tourism operators.
A concession system was agreed in 2005, resulting in 36
applications for 23 packets of 9496 yearly landings, with
those missing out reacting angrily.
As a result, Minister of Conservation Tim Groser wrote a
letter to the board suggesting two possible scenarios - the
first to keep the status quo and the second to increase
landings to 12,637.
The general consensus at yesterday's meeting in Invercargill
was the second option was un-satisfactory, with Russell
Ibbotson saying it needed to be made clear to the minister
how much work and time had been put in to reach the agreement
on the concession system in the first place.
A subcommittee is to reply to Mr Groser, while chairwoman Viv
Shaw will meet Associate Minister of Conservation Kate
Wilkinson on October 20 to voice the board's concerns.
The board also discussed the possibility of oil exploration
in Fiordland National Park's Waitutu area by L&M
Petroleum and Government plans to take stock of low
conservation value land which may have mineral value.
Southland Conservator Barry Hanson assured members Waitutu
was protected under Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act,
which bans mining, something Mr McNeill emphasised was not by
accident.
The board is to write to the minister to outline its
concerns.
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