Fish and Game Otago is
questioning the ability of Land Information New Zealand to
invalidate some tenure review submissions on land in Central
Otago's Nevis Valley earmarked for hydro-electric
development.
The Commissioner of Crown Lands has ruled that tenure review
submissions on two Crown-owned pastoral lease properties that
mention hydro-electricity generation, would be ruled invalid.
This has angered Fish and Game Otago chief executive Niall
Watson, whose organisation has been leading opposition to
Pioneer Generation's hydro-electric development on the Nevis
River, accusing the commissioner of being "heavy-handed".
"They are being heavy-handed in suggesting they would
disqualify submissions that have the words 'hydro-electric'
in them."
Pioneer Generation has entered into tenure review to secure
freehold title to parts of Ben Nevis and Craigroy Stations so
it would be able to build a hydro-electric generation scheme.
It has support from the Department of Conservation.
Mr Watson said the commissioner's ruling appeared to ignore
the fact that post tenure review, the landscape would change
and threaten significant inherent values.
The Crown was disposing of public-owned land and Mr Watson
said the public had an interest and should be able to make
submissions on all aspects of the proposal.
The public would not separate the issues of the river, the
river bank, the landscape and future use of the valley when
making their submissions.
Mr Watson said he would be seeking clarification of the
commissioner's powers to limit the scope of submissions.
In a briefing last year to former Lands Minister David
Parker, Land Information New Zealand officials said post
tenure review use was outside the scope of the Crown Pastoral
Lands Act and needed to be considered under the Resource
Management Act.
Fish and Game Otago has sought an amendment to the Kawarua
River Water Conservation Order to include the Nevis River to
stop the damming of what it terms one of the Otago's last
great wild rivers.
- neal.wallace@odt.co.nz
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