Today the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) and Mackenzie District Council announced it had reached a settlement that committed the council to bring in temporary rules effectively closing a loophole that may have allowed vegetation to be cleared without land use consents.
The settlement, this week endorsed by the Environment Court, was expected to ultimately result in new plan provisions.
EDS chief executive Gary Taylor said the loophole would have meant tussock grassland and other significant vegetation could be cleared with impunity, in spite of the ecological and landscape values.
"We consider that in agreeing to this settlement the council has acted properly and in accordance with the objectives of the Resource Management Act and having regard to the national importance of the Mackenzie Country."
Council chief executive Wayne Barnett said the council was pleased with the outcome, which provided "greater certainty" about its plan.
"Our agreement is to take the required procedural steps to notify a very focused plan change and have it take legal effect before Christmas," he said.
"That is of course subject to council's statutory duties."
In a joint statement, both agreed the longer-term objective for the district was to give effect to the Mackenzie Forum's "Shared Vision Statement" that charted a way for farming, tourism and conservation goals to be met over time.