Coal deposit no longer in conservation park: Groser

The proposed 65,000ha Oteake Conservation Park, straddling the mountain ranges between the mid-Waitaki Valley and Central Otago, is to be down-sized.

It is Crown land managed by the Department of Conservation, which plans to develop it into a conservation area open to the public for recreational use.

The park comprises sections of the St Bathans, Hawkdun, Ida, Ewe and St Marys Ranges.

Conservation Minister Tim Groser announced changes to the boundary of the conservation park yesterday.

The changes exclude a 195ha area over the Hawkdun lignite deposit, which is deemed a significant resource of recoverable energy.

The park, which was to be 65,000ha, would now be 64,805ha, Mr Groser said.

"This is a very small change to the area of the park, but one of significant importance to the energy decisions of future generations.

"There are no immediate plans to mine the deposit, but there could be significant national benefits from the resource," Mr Groser said.

"Hawkdun could yield liquid fuels equivalent to New Zealand's transport require-ments for 15 to 20 years."

The area over the deposit would remain protected public conservation land adjoining the park, and any decisions on its future use were decisions for future generations.

There is an informal Department of Conservation camp-ing area at the Hawkdun site.

Public walking, mountain biking, and 4WD mountain touring tracks radiate out from the camping area into the Oteake Conservation Park.

Mr Groser said survey work on the park's boundary had been performed and the park was on track to open formally this summer, he said.