No prosecutions will be brought against four farmers who lit burn-off fires near Wanaka which escaped and damaged public conservation land last spring.
The Department of Conservation (Doc) yesterday announced its decision not to prosecute the farmers, despite the "severe damage" caused by the burn-offs and the "very real threat of prosecution".
The fires occurred at Glen Dene Station, The Neck, Mt Brown and West Wanaka, and there was also an unauthorised burn-off near Alexandra.
"We are seeking all the costs of suppressing the fires from the respective landowners and we have agreed on a mitigation package at the landowners' expense where relevant.
"We are also introducing some even stricter initiatives for new permits.
"Taking all matters into account, we have decided not to prosecute, this time", Doc Otago Conservator Marian van der Goes said.
The mitigation approach would assist natural heritage recovery and reduce the risk of future fires escaping.
The landowners would face ongoing costs on top of fire suppression, including completing a full assessment of the effects of the fire, erecting fencing to keep public conservation land separate and free of livestock, regular weed and pest control to maximise re-generation and ongoing monitoring of the fire-damaged area's recovery.
Despite these efforts, Doc Wanaka area manager Paul Hellebrekers said it would take at least 20 years of plant succession before some of the burnt areas returned to their pre-fire state.
Having four fires escape and one unauthorised burn-off in one season has prompted more stringent fire restrictions and procedures.
All permit applications will have to be lodged six weeks before any burn-off, all proposed areas will be inspected by Doc, and a Doc officer will attend and monitor burns that are considered a high risk to public conservation lands.
A helicopter must be on hand when the fire is lit and in many cases a second helicopter will be required.
