The Otago Conservation Board, in a move to diffuse any public perception of bias, will publicly declare its faith in its two representatives who will hear more than 500 submissions to the 10-year review of the Mount Aspiring National Management Plan.
Two board members, Gary Nixon and Chas Tanner, are on a panel that will consider submissions to the plan, but another board member, Bruce Parker, told yesterday's meeting in Milton he was concerned some people may have some doubts about the impartiality of the panel when some of its members had vested interests in the national park.
Mr Parker said he had attended a recent Environment Court hearing where the judge and commissioners were totally independent and there was absolutely no perception of bias or members having a predetermined view on issues.
While he was not criticising either personally, he said some people involved in the process may feel the panel is heavily leaned in the Department of Conservation's (Doc) favour.
Otago conservator Jeff Connell said there were two possible solutions but one of those - enlarging the panel's membership would take too much time and could not happen in time for the hearings.
The other more practical "solution would be for the board to put its full trust on the record" in both board members and make it clear they believe both are impartial and unbiased.
Mr Parker said he was happy with that approach, but felt it also important to raise his concerns.
Doc's community relations manager, Marian van der Goes, said the number of submissions was "a marvellous response" and declaration of the high level of interest there is in Otago's national park.
"Many of the individual responses are very constructive and obviously a lot of thought has gone into them."
Two key issues have arisen from the public feedback - air access to Bevan Col and jet-boat use within the park.
A series of two-day hearings will be held later this month.
They will be in Dunedin on July 14 and 15, Queenstown on July 20 and 21 and Wanaka on July 22 and 23 although the length of those hearings may vary.
A further hearing may be needed on the West Coast to hear from submitters based there.
Two board members and two Doc staffers will make up the four-person panel.
