Doc's public guardian role queried

Otago conservator Marian van der Goes fielded criticism yesterday that the Department of Conservation had "sold out" in regard to the Project Hayes wind farm.

"Who is the public guardian of our landscapes if Doc isn't," Central Otago Environmental Society and Save Central spokesman Graye Shattky said.

Speaking during the public forum of the Otago Conservation Board meeting at St Bathans, Mr Shattky thanked the board for backing the environmental groups' successful appeal against the wind farm.

Last week, the Environment Court announced it had upheld the appeal and declined consents for Meridian Energy's planned $2 billion wind farm on the Lammermoor Range.

One of the issues raised during the hearing was the public perception that it could no longer rely on Doc as the public guardian of the area's landscapes, Mr Shattky said.

"The wider public perception is that Doc sold us out in regard to Project Hayes."

"The question that remains is to what extent can the public rely on Doc in the future to provide the assessment and evaluation of the benefits in the landscape and to advocate and provide us with an assessment of these intrinsic values," he said.

Ms van der Goes said the department was not an expert on landscapes.

"We don't employ a wall of landscape architects. We are experts on biodiversity and that's our strong area of expertise."

The community was responsible for protecting the landscapes that were special to it, she said.

"We could continue to debate this back and forth, but I won't, " Mr Shattky said.

"But if there is no watchdog, apart from the community, how can small communities take on the likes of Meridian?"

Board chairman Hoani Langsbury said the court decision noted it was the first "whole of government" submission in support of an electricity project under the Resource Management Act as a project of national significance.

"That does not reflect the commitment of the local conservancy; their hands were tied by central government," he said.

The conservation board was an independent body and would always stand up for landscape values, he said.

Mr Shattky said the board's submission played a significant role in the Project Hayes decision.

Board member Garry Nixon said the ruling confirmed the board's stance that the landscape involved was outstanding.

The fact that it was surrounded by conservation land was also seen as significant.

lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz