While the board had not had time to discuss the Government's plans to spend part of $4 million over the next nine months investigating mining in Rakiura National Park, he was not personally opposed to it.
A Government GNS report identified $7 billion of resources in the park, including chromium, copper, gold, iron, lead, nickel, silver and tin.
Informal talks on the topic would take place soon in order to gauge public reaction, he said.
"I don't personally have a problem with that.
"I'd like to think it would be good for the community."
He expected accommodation, transport and infrastructure to be boosted while investigations were under way.
Local reaction would be determined by what was found during explorations, he said.
While he did not believe people should be "negative before it starts", he was adamant, if the Government decided to allow mining in conservation areas, "the community would not be very happy".
People often moved to Stewart Island attracted by its beauty and abundance of nature and the importance people placed on it would not change.
Also included in forthcoming mining investigation plans was the Longwoods area in Western Southland.
Spanning a 32km by 12km area, it was "New Zealand's best known platinum group metal prospect", the Government discussion paper stated.
Southland Mayor Frana Cardno said she was personally "totally opposed" to mining in conservation areas.
"Stewart Island is a very pristine area and I think the value of it is leaving it like that."
However, she was "not totally opposed" to "environmentally sensitive, sustainable" mining in other areas like Longwoods.
Green Party co-leader Meteria Turei was concerned about the impact proposed mining would have on the tourism industry.
Stewart Island was a "precious and quite fragile area" and to have it surveyed for its mining potential was a "very serious concern".
Submissions on the discussion document close on May 4.
