At Tuesday’s Waitaki District Council executive committee meeting, economic development manager Gerard Quinn gave an update on the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust’s work, including its recently developed strategy to move its focus from serving visitors to delivering community-based outcomes with a focus on education.
Cr Tavendale said while she supported an educational focus, the strategy neglected key components to make the district’s geological assets sustainable.
There was ‘‘so little’’ being done to preserve the attractions, they would fail to have longevity if they were not managed appropriately, she said.
‘‘I feel like that’s the missing piece of the puzzle that’s just not being dealt with, from what I can see,’’ Cr Tavendale said.
Omarama’s Clay Cliffs were a prime example where a large number of people visited in an uncontrolled manner, she said.
‘‘It still concerns me that we are pushing the visitor element of that before we’ve actually got the checks and balances in place to make sure they’re going to be there long term. It needs actually actioned.’’
Geopark trustee Melanie Jones said sustainability was one of the Geopark’s core strategies, prioritising the ‘‘hero geo-sites’’, including the Moeraki Boulders, Elephant Rocks and Clay Cliffs.
Several sites were privately owned, and the trust had to work ‘‘very sensitively’’ alongside them. Geopark co-ordinators contacted landowners last week requesting meetings to discuss protection.
‘‘The onus is absolutely on us as a trust to keep moving through that,’’ Mrs Jones said.
Mr Quinn said the trust was also working with the owners of Elephant Rocks on improving the site.
‘‘That’s about protection as well as letting people have access to it,’’ he said.
