tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29730445097291742902024-03-06T20:46:22.642+13:00Clutha River GuardianUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-13454109123317924552015-04-11T09:42:00.002+12:002015-04-12T12:54:23.739+12:00River Park Sale Agreed<b><a href="http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/338781/river-park-sale-agreed">River Park sale agreed</a></b><br />
Saturday 11 April 2015<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
Contact Energy and the Red Bridge River Park Trust have
agreed on sale conditions for a parcel of Luggate land sought
by the charitable trust to develop a community river park.
<br />
<br />
The resolution follows more than a year of discussions
between long-term tenant of the land and trustee Lewis
Verduyn-Cassels and Contact over the proposed sale of the
0.4ha property.
<br />
<br />
Mr Verduyn-Cassels said the trust was grateful for the
support of the Wanaka Community Board and the many donors who
had made the project possible.
<br />
<br />
As the original proposal for the river park included
neighbouring land that was sold to other individuals, the
trust would look at revising the project plan to reflect the
changed ownership.
<br />
<br />
As part of the agreed sale process, the trust will pay a
portion of the market sale price of the land up front and
further settlement is due within the next five years.
<br />
<br />
Contact is also finalising arrangements to gift a separate
1.9ha block of land next to the Luggate Bridge to the local
community, most probably through the Queenstown Lakes
District Council.
<br />
<br />
Contact has been progressively selling parcels of land it
owns in the Clutha region in recent years, following an
announcement in 2012 that it was no longer going ahead with a
proposed hydro generation development in the area.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-56672107460282577442015-04-09T14:30:00.000+12:002015-04-11T10:05:30.233+12:00Contact And Trust Reach Agreement<span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1504/S00193/contact-trust-agreement-on-sale-of-luggate-land.htm">Contact and River Park Trust pleased to reach agreement</a></b> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Thursday 9 April 2015</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">www.scoop.co.nz</span><br />
<br />
Contact and
trustees for The Red Bridge River Park Trust this week have
agreed sale conditions for a parcel of Luggate land sought
by the charitable Trust to develop a community river park
involving native fauna and flora restoration and freshwater
ecology. The positive resolution follows over a year of
discussions between long term tenant of the land and trustee
Lewis Verduyn-Cassels and Contact over the proposed sale of
the 0.4 ha property. <br />
<br />
“We’re very pleased to reach an
agreement that enables both parties to move forward
positively, with the Trust able to now explore its plans to
develop the community river park,” says Contact’s
Generation & Development Project Manager, Neil Gillespie.
<br />
<br />
“We are grateful to the many people behind the scenes
who have contributed their support to this agreement. The
Wanaka Community Board, and numerous donors, have all made
this project possible,” said River Park Trustee, Lewis
Verduyn-Cassels.”<br />
<br />
“As the original proposal for the
river park included adjacent land that was sold to other
individuals, the Trustees will be looking at revising the
project plan to reflect the changed ownership. We literally
have decades of work ahead of us as we progressively restore
and enhance the Red Bridge area.”<br />
<br />
As part of the agreed
sale process the Trust will pay a portion of the market sale
price of the land up front, with further settlement due
within the next five years. Separate to the sale to the
Trust, Contact is in the process of finalising arrangements
to gift a 1.9 ha block of land adjacent to the Luggate
Bridge to the local community, most likely through the
Queenstown Lakes District Council.<br />
<br />
Contact has been
progressively selling parcels of land it owns in the Clutha
region in recent years, following an announcement in 2012
that it was no longer progressing a proposed Hydo generation
development in the
area.<br />
<br />
<b>About Red
Bridge River Park Trust</b><br />
The purpose of the Red
Bridge River Park Trust is to create and manage a river park
and native recovery centre on riverside land at the Luggate
Red Bridge, on the Clutha Mata-Au River, for the benefit of
the community in perpetuity.<br />
<a href="http://www.redbridgeriverpark.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank">www.redbridgeriverpark.blogspot.co.nz</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-8164501635279919022015-01-30T08:11:00.003+13:002015-01-30T08:14:40.311+13:00'Good progress' in talks on riverside land<a href="http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/331488/good-progress-talks-riverside-land"><b>'Good progress' in talks on riverside land</b></a><br />
By Lucy Ibbotson, on Friday 30 January 2015<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
An agreement over the future of a piece of riverside land
near Luggate wanted for a conservation park is still several
weeks away.<br />
<br />
Negotiations have been ongoing for almost a year between
Contact Energy, the owners of a 0.4ha site next to the Clutha
River at the Luggate Red Bridge, and Lewis Verduyn-Cassels,
who established the Red Bridge River Park Trust to help
realise his vision for a community conservation area on the
land.<br />
<br />
The trust was given several extended deadlines to raise
$300,000 to buy the land, before entering into private
discussions with Contact towards the end of last year.<br />
<br />
Contact's trading, development and geothermal resources
project manager, Neil Gillespie, said this week the power
company was ''still talking'' with Mr Verduyn-Cassels.<br />
<br />
''We're making good progress.<br />
<br />
''In the next three to four weeks we should be closer to
knowing where we're at.''
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-80774307466915586292014-11-21T08:36:00.002+13:002014-11-21T08:36:14.063+13:00Cycleway Talks With Landowners Start<a href="http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/324064/cycleway-talks-landowners-start"><b>Cycleway talks with landowners start</b></a><br />
By Mark Price, on Friday 21 November 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
Discussions are under way between the Upper Clutha Tracks
Trust and about 20 landowners along the Clutha River over the
possible route for a cycleway linking Wanaka and Cromwell.
<br />
<br />
Trustee Tom Rowley told the Otago Daily Times this week the
trust had received funding from the Central Lakes Trust to
carry out a feasibility study into extending by about 45km
the existing river track, which ends at Luggate at the Wanaka
end and Lowburn at the Cromwell end.
<br />
<br />
''At the moment we are trying to meet as many of the
landowners as we can and talk it through with them. That's a
bit of an involved process, really.''
<br />
<br />
Mr Rowley said discussions were going ''pretty well''.
<br />
<br />
''For the most part, we are getting a very good reception
from the landowners but we have got a few to work through
yet.''
<br />
<br />
Mr Rowley said some landowners already had a plan for the
cycleway through their properties when the company carrying
out the feasibility study arrived.
<br />
<br />
''I've been warning [landowners] that we are wanting to meet
with them and they have had time to think about it. So, some
of them have been outstanding really.''
<br />
<br />
Mr Rowley said the track would be fenced where necessary.
<br />
<br />
The intention was to ensure the track required as little
maintenance as possible.
<br />
<br />
''It's a big factor in what we are trying to do.''
<br />
<br />
He expected it would take ''a lot of money'' to build the
track and it would probably be built in stages.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-26012114042186590212014-10-01T09:56:00.000+13:002014-10-10T10:04:11.385+13:00Purchase Good Despite Shock Cost<b><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/10563611/Purchase-good-result-despite-shock-cost">Purchase 'good result' despite shock cost</a></b><br />
By Marjorie Cook, on Wednesday 1 October 2014<br />
The Southland Times<br />
<br />
After lengthy secret negotiations, the Department of Conservation
yesterday announced the Nature Heritage Fund had spent $935,000 on 164ha
of Contact Energy land near the Luggate Red Bridge to add to the public
conservation estate.
<br />
<br />
Emeritus professor of botany Sir Alan Mark, of Dunedin, welcomed the
purchase as significant but questioned whether taxpayers should have
had to pay that much.
<br />
<br />
"The sum involved of $935,000 sounds a lot to me.
<br />
<br />
"That must be current land valuations . . .
<br />
<br />
"The end result is good but the means still leaves a lot to be required," Mark said.
<br />
<br />
Many other people signed an open letter to Contact Energy recently,
suggesting that, among other things, it could discount the purchase
price because of the substantial profits the company had made from
electricity developments on the Clutha River.
<br />
<br />
The announcement was still pleasing and he was surprised it had not
been made by the minister of conservation before the election.
<br />
<br />
"It is certainly quite a significant area and there are no doubts it has very high conservation values," he said.
<br />
DOC's Wanaka conservation services manager Chris Sydney said getting the land was a great outcome for conservation.
<br />
<br />
"The Upper Clutha Basin is recognised as an outstanding natural
landscape with biodiversity features of national, regional and local
importance," Sydney said.
<br />
<br />
The Nature Heritage Fund purchase was for some but not all of the
properties Contact Energy decided in 2012 it no longer required for dam
building. Some sites have significant historical or recreational value
while others have important biodiversity values.
<br />
<br />
Sydney said the combined values of the land meant they were considered to be of national importance.
<br />
<br />
The properties provided river access and included significant river terraces and dryland vegetation.
<br />
<br />
Eight threatened and uncommon plant species and several historical features were contained on the land.
<br />
<br />
The sites also had high strategic value next to marginal strips along the Clutha/ Mata-Au River, Sydney said.
<br />
<br />
<b>FAST FACTS </b>
<br />
The Nature Heritage Fund is a contestable ministerial fund that seeks to protect New Zealand ecosystems.
<br />
It has received 1352 applications since its inception in 1990, protecting 340,780 hectares of indigenous ecosystems.
<br />
It has spent $158.45 million so far (about $465 per hectare).
<br />
Source: 2013 DOC annual report
<br />
<br />
<b>SPECIAL STATUS </b>
<br />
Where: 13km east of Wanaka, on the true left of the Clutha River.
<br />
What is protected: goldmining archaeological sites, dry-land terrace vegetation, and a "national critical" ecosystem.<br />
Endangered plants include: Annual forget-me-not (Myosotis brevis,
status – nationally vulnerable), mousetail (Myosurus minimus ssp
novae-zelandiae, status – nationally endangered), Olearia lineata
(status – declining), and Cushion pimelea (Pimelea sericeovillosa ssp
pulvinaris, status – declining).
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-42607498085996101862014-08-08T08:30:00.000+12:002014-08-08T12:19:48.780+12:00Cromwell Could Become A Cycling Hub<div>
<a href="http://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/311925/cromwell-could-become-cycling-hub"><b>Cromwell could become a cycling hub</b></a></div>
By Lynda van Kempen, on Friday 8 August 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
Cromwell could become ''the hub'' of new cycle trail networks
if a proposed Luggate to Cromwell trail is successful, the
trail promoters say.<br />
<br />
The Upper Clutha Tracks Trust was given a grant of $25,000 by
the Central Lakes Trust this week for a feasibility study
into the proposed 40km trail.<br />
<br />
Tracks trustee and treasurer John Wellington said the
proposed trail would connect the Upper Clutha trail network
to Cromwell and tie in with the wider Central Otago cycle
trail network.<br />
<br />
It would link with the proposed Cromwell to Gibbston trail
and the proposed Cromwell to Clyde one as well, he said.<br />
<br />
''Bit by bit, various groups have taken up the challenge of
forming trails along the Clutha River and we're working our
way towards Cromwell,'' Mr Wellington said.<br />
<br />
When the proposed trails were completed, Cromwell would be
the ''hub'' of the new trail network, he said.<br />
<br />
The Luggate to Cromwell trail was mostly within the Central
Otago district, on the true right of the Clutha River, and he
believed the feasibility study would show it was ''do-able''.<br />
<br />
''Then it will be a matter of getting other parties on side,
talking to adjoining landowners and starting fundraising.''<br />
<br />
The aim would be to have the trail on public land where
possible, but some of the route would cross private land, so
the trust would have to canvass landowners and negotiate with
them.<br />
<br />
Mr Wellington said the feasibility study could be completed
by November and would include estimates of the trail cost.<br />
<br />
''It's a longer trail than we've built previously, but it
won't have much in the way of structures, so that will make
it cheaper, but we really don't even have a ballpark figure
at the moment.''<br />
<br />
Unlike the trails on the ''Great Rides'' national cycle
network, part-funded by the Government, this trail would have
a ''lower scale finish'' and was likely to be 1.5m wide,
narrower than trails on the national network, which were 2.5m
to 3m wide. That would make it cheaper to develop.<br />
<br />
''As soon as the feasibility study gives the green light,
we'd look at getting it under way, maybe doing it in stages
if we need to,'' Mr Wellington said.<br />
<br />
Among the other grants by the Central Lakes Trust in its
latest round of funding were $1500 for the Wanaka Preschool
Early Childhood Centre, for two additional shade sails, and
$4750 to the Drybread Cemetery Trust for a new concrete
burial strip for headstones and the creation of 40 new
graves. The Alexandra Musical Society was also granted a
guarantee against loss of $7500 to enable it to stage the
musical All Shook Up next month.
<br />
<span id="fullpost">
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-82784791455076975252014-08-02T10:36:00.000+12:002014-08-02T10:39:57.620+12:00Conservation Group Aims To Build Unity<a href="http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/311426/conservation-group-aims-build-unity"><b>Conservation group aims to build unity</b></a>
<br />
<div class="byline">
By Mark Price, on Saturday 2 August 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times <br />
<div class="node-terms">
<br /></div>
</div>
A task force has been set up in Wanaka to create more
co-ordination and collaboration between the dozens of groups
each working on their own conservation projects.<br />
<br />
Chairwoman of the newly formed Upper Clutha Conservation
Taskforce, Megan Williams, this week told the <i>Otago Daily
Times</i> the task force was the result of a public meeting
in May held as part of the region's Shaping our Future
process.<br />
<br />
It was attended by various conservation groups ''just to try
and get some vision and strategy around what people were
doing and encourage more collaboration'', Ms Williams said.<br />
<br />
Data collected from the meeting was being developed into the
task force's terms of reference, and a ''draft vision'' was
being formed using existing material as a starting point.<br />
<br />
''We're just trying to think long-term and lead the groups to
develop a shared vision,'' Ms Williams said.
<br />
Butterfields Wetlands next to the Hawea River, near Albert
Town, had three different conservation groups working on it,
''which haven't actually agreed on what they want the place
to look like in the future''.
<br />
<br />
One group was planting trees and another was planning to
build a track.<br />
<br />
There were also five groups working in the Matukituki Valley
and ''they haven't really been collaborating''.<br />
<br />
''So I believe since the meeting in May a group of them have
got together ... It's just encouraging a little bit more
collaboration there to get more done.''<br />
<br />
Long term, everyone agreed on the need for ''pristine water
and pristine air'', Ms Williams said.
<br />
But the question was how to ensure those things were
achieved.<br />
<br />
Asked about the prospect of another 1400 woodburners being
installed in the proposed Northlake subdivision of Wanaka, Ms
Williams said the task force would ''try and stay out of the
political process at that level and really try to stay
big-picture on conservation issues''.<br />
<br />
''All we are looking at doing is leading a discussion with
the Upper Clutha groups to develop a shared vision so that
everyone can work together.''<br />
<br />
It was hoped to have a conservation strategy prepared before
the end of the year.<br />
<br />
Already it seemed clear more water, soil and air monitoring
needed to be undertaken.<br />
<br />
''Whether that's done by volunteers or whether we do that by
lobbying the local authorities - that's the type of action we
will be hoping for.''<br />
<br />
Data was needed to establish ''base lines, so that we know
where we are at'', Ms Williams said.<br />
<br />
The task force would not be taking over the roles of other
conservation groups but would be complementing what they did.<br />
<br />
Ms Williams, originally from Dunedin, has a background in
tourism, and teaches sustainable tourism at the Queenstown
Resort College.<br />
<br />
The members of the task force are: John Wellington, Robbie
Lawton, Anne Steven, Andrew Penniket, Calum MacLeod, Natalie
Astin, Alexa Forbes and representatives from the Lake Wanaka
Guardians and Department of Conservation.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-75189628565222422492014-03-29T09:11:00.000+13:002014-03-29T09:12:17.358+13:00Court Cancels Enforcement Order<b>Court cancels enforcement order; farmer can resume cultivation</b><br />
By Lucy Ibbotson, on Saturday March 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
A Hawea Flat farmer can continue cultivating his land after
an Environment Court ruling found in his favour yesterday.
<br />
<br />
The court cancelled an interim enforcement order which had
stopped Dougal Innes from carrying out any further vegetation
clearance or discing on his property next to the Clutha River
since March 3.
<br />
<br />
The case was brought by the Royal Forest and Bird Protection
Society of New Zealand, which said significant native
vegetation was being destroyed by the cultivation work.
<br />
<br />
Resource consent should have been required under the rules of
the Queenstown Lakes District Council's district plan, the
society said.
<br />
<br />
In delivering his finding verbally yesterday following a
four-day hearing in Queenstown, Judge John Hassan said
continuation of the interim order would serve ''no valid
resource management purpose''.
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes could resume developing the area of land he had
already cleared and disced, as it was unlikely any indigenous
vegetation - as defined by the district plan - remained or
could be recovered. [Editor's note: on the contrary, the evidence showed significant indigenous vegetation had survived the discs on the lower terrace, which would recover.]<br />
<br />
It was unlikely the district plan would be breached by any
further disturbance.
<br />
<br />
But the court found clearance of indigenous vegetation on the
as-yet-uncultivated remaining land would be a restricted
discretionary activity.
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes could not cultivate that area without first getting
resource consent, if his proposed activity required it.
<br />
<br />
The court was satisfied Mr Innes had ''demonstrated at least
good intent'', Judge Hassan said.
<br />
<br />
That was evident in the fact he had not disturbed areas of
his land containing historical features while waiting for
advice from an archaeological authority and in the patience
he had shown during the Forest and Bird legal action.
<br />
<br />
Forest and Bird had argued environmental effects were the
critical consideration, rather than the effects on the
parties.
<br />
<br />
But Judge Hassan said it was relevant to consider financial
hardship to a person.
<br />
<br />
The court considered it unjust to maintain the order for
reasons including the ''undue financial hardship'' it would
impose on Mr Innes who had acted responsibly and with due
diligence before beginning clearance work.
<br />
<br />
Council officers who advised Mr Innes he did not require
resource consent for the activity ''could not be said to have
obviously got it wrong either''.
<br />
<br />
It was ''most unfortunate that due to the council's systems
error'' the ecological assessment findings of the property -
noting the presence of indigenous vegetation - were not
provided.
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes - who had told the court he invested his family's
life savings in the property - expressed relief yesterday,
following what he described as a stressful few weeks.
<br />
<br />
''I'm happy, there's no doubt about that.''
<br />
<br />
He thanked his supporters, including the large number of
farmers who had been present in court throughout the hearing.
<br />
<br />
Following the decision, Forest and Bird Otago Southland field
officer Sue Maturin said a special part of Central Otago had
been lost.
<br />
<br />
''If the Queenstown Lakes District Council had acted to stop
the destruction as soon as Forest and Bird alerted it, we may
not have lost one of the best and biggest remaining areas of
short tussock grasslands, cushion fields, and dry land
ecosystems in the Upper Clutha Basin.
<br />
<br />
''This case highlights the need for councils to be much
better at advising landowners about their obligations under
district plans; to have clear rules to protect biodiversity;
and to strongly uphold the integrity of their plans.''
<br />
<br />
Forest and Bird would decide on any further action after it
had seen the written findings, its lawyer Sally Gepp said.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-67189789385790645152014-03-28T08:58:00.000+13:002014-03-29T09:00:09.764+13:00Ruling Expected Today ...<b>Ruling expected today on land-clearance case</b>By Lucy Ibbotson, on Friday 28 March 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
Should farming activities or protection of indigenous
vegetation take priority on a contentious piece of privately
owned land at Hawea Flat?
<br />
<br />
That is the question the Environment Court will answer today,
in a decision Judge John Hassan says is ''by no means an easy
one''.
<br />
<br />
The ruling could have significant implications for the
farming industry if an interim enforcement order issued
against farmer Dougal Innes earlier this month is upheld,
lawyer Graeme Todd submitted to the court in Queenstown
yesterday.
<br />
<br />
The order was obtained by the Royal Forest and Bird
Protection Society of New Zealand, which considers protecting
the indigenous vegetation on Mr Innes' land a matter of
''national importance''.
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes had already disced a large part of the site before
his farming activities were halted by the order, which he has
applied to the court to have cancelled.
<br />
<br />
In closing submissions, Forest and Bird lawyer Sally Gepp
said the consequences of Mr Innes not being able to cultivate
his land this year should not override a clear breach of the
district plan, the adverse effects already caused at the site
and the further effects which would occur if the order was
cancelled.
<br />
<br />
''Protection of significant indigenous vegetation is a matter
of national importance which all decision-makers must
recognise and provide for,'' Ms Gepp said.
<br />
<br />
The most appropriate forum for considering Mr Innes' proposed
farming activity was a resource consent process where all
parties could have a view on the matter through notification.
<br />
<br />
''[Mr Innes] is required to seek consent for indigenous
vegetation clearance like any other person.''
<br />
<br />
It was ''not an ex-appropriation of his rights'', but rather
a normal and legal application of the district plan.
<br />
Mr Todd, who is acting for neighbouring landowner and
interested party James Cooper, said the significant question
if the interim order was upheld was: which landowner in the
district would be next?
<br />
<br />
''If farmers are required to spend thousands of dollars
applying for resource consents for every act of clearance of
their land and if their ability to cultivate and farm their
land is curtailed by a standard that they are not allowed to
clear pasture even if a few indigenous species are present on
a site, this has significant implications for the farming
industry not only in this region but in other regions.''
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes' lawyer, Jan Caunter, said Mr Innes had ''asked all
of the right questions and sought advice from all the right
places'' on matters relevant to buying the property and which
might have affected his ability to use it.
<br />
<br />
''He sought LIM reports which did not alert him to the
presence of indigenous vegetation on the site. It did,
however, alert him to activities that had previously been
approved on the site, which were in many respects similar to
what he wished to do,'' Ms Caunter said.
<br />
<br />
''[He] received what essentially amounted to 'yes, you can go
ahead'.''
<br />
<br />
Federated Farmers lawyer Richard Gardner said because the
land had been used for primary production purposes for a long
time and cultivated on occasion for those purposes, Mr Innes'
claims to existing use rights were ''well founded''.
<br />
<br />
''There is no basis upon which the interim enforcement order
can be sustained ... Mr Innes and the other farmers in the
Queenstown Lakes district who are concerned about the
implications of the interim enforcement order should be left
to go about their lawful farming activities,'' Mr Gardner
said.
<br />
<br />
Further consideration was given to a compromise, as mooted by
Mr Todd on Wednesday.
<br />
<br />
Judge Hassan asked three ecologists - who were appearing for
the council, Mr Innes and Forest and Bird - their view on an
appropriate width for a possible buffer zone on the southern
boundary of Mr Innes' property, to protect indigenous
vegetation on neighbouring land owned by Contact Energy.
<br />
<br />
Their opinions ranged from 20m to 200m.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-60878333523205456562014-03-27T09:29:00.000+13:002014-03-28T09:33:27.683+13:00Land Compromise Raised<b>Land compromise raised</b><br />
By Lucy Ibbotson, on Thursday 27 March 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
The possibility of a ''compromise situation'' benefiting both
sides of a land dispute was raised in the Environment Court
sitting in Queenstown yesterday.
<br />
<br />
Detailed scientific evidence was given by three ecologists on
day three of a hearing to consider Dougal Innes' application
to cancel an interim enforcement order stopping him from
farming his land at Hawea Flat.
<br />
<br />
The order was obtained by the Royal Forest and Bird Society
of New Zealand, which has concerns about the potential loss
of important indigenous vegetation on the site, which has
already been largely cleared and disced by Mr Innes.
<br />
<br />
Arrowtown ecological consultant Glenn Davis appeared for the
Queenstown Lakes District Council, having surveyed Mr Innes'
land as part of an ongoing council project to identify areas
of significant indigenous vegetation throughout the district.
<br />
<br />
During cross-examination by lawyer Graeme Todd - representing
neighbouring landowner James Cooper, an interested party in
the proceedings - Mr Davis was asked what he believed should
happen with the land and whether it should be ''locked up''
in the future from further development.
<br />
<br />
''I would like to see some effort made to at least restore
some of the land or maintain at least some of the disturbed
land,'' Mr Davis replied.
<br />
<br />
Mr Todd said maintaining the interim enforcement order would
have ''catastrophic implications'' for Mr Innes, as it would
prevent him from gaining any income from the land.
<br />
<br />
He asked if Mr Davis had therefore considered a ''compromise
situation'', where the order would be uplifted and some other
means of protection applied.
<br />
<br />
Mr Davis said he had thought of other options, including
leaving aside some of the land that had already been
disturbed to provide for a ''sequence of vegetation''
spanning the site from the Clutha River to the upper
terraces.
<br />
<br />
''In doing so, there would need to be some reduction in the
area that Mr Innes has available for farming.''
<br />
<br />
Based on his observations, Mr Davis told the court further
physical disturbance of the site would exacerbate the
''significant damage'' that had already occurred, but sowing
and irrigating the land, as intended by Mr Innes, would
''fundamentally alter'' the whole site and the important
plant communities found there.
<br />
<br />
The hearing continues in Queenstown today before Judge John
Hassan and commissioners John Mills and Ian Buchanan. A
decision is expected to be issued verbally by the court today
or tomorrow.
<br />
<br />
The case is attracting a large amount of interest, with
members of the farming community present each day in the
public gallery and the district's Mayor, Vanessa van Uden,
and Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean in attendance yesterday.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-60261762921837226852014-03-26T08:58:00.000+13:002014-03-26T08:58:30.485+13:00Tensions At Hearing<b>Tensions at hearing</b><br />
By Lucy Ibbotson, on Wednesday 26th March 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
The Queenstown Lakes District Council's level of culpability
came under the spotlight yesterday in a land debate pitting
farmers against conservationists.
<br />
<br />
Representatives from both sides packed the public gallery on
day two of an Environment Court hearing in Queenstown
considering the cancellation of an interim enforcement order
against Hawea Flat farmer Dougal Innes.
<br />
<br />
The order was obtained earlier this month by the Royal Forest
and Bird Society of New Zealand to prevent Mr Innes carrying
out further native vegetation clearance and discing work on
his land next to the Clutha River, which is considered to be
ecologically important.
<br />
<br />
During a break in proceedings, tensions were evident between
some of the Upper Clutha farmers and Forest and Bird members.
<br />
<br />
The council's planning and development general manager, Marc
Bretherton, said field notes prepared by the QLDC's
ecological consultant identifying the site's conservation
values had mistakenly not been provided to the council when
Mr Innes sought advice on whether his proposed farming
operation would require resource consent.
<br />
<br />
Mr Bretherton and council planner Ian Greaves subsequently
advised Mr Innes it appeared there would be no breach of the
district plan.
<br />
<br />
''Based on the information that council held, there was
nothing telling me that he needed a resource consent,'' Mr
Bretherton said.
<br />
<br />
''Certainly, if we'd had possession of that [ecological]
information, that would have better informed our
understanding of the site ... and we would have been better
able to advise Mr Innes.''
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes was advised obtaining further information himself
would ''assist him in determining categorically whether
resource consent was or was not required'', Mr Bretherton
said.
<br />
<br />
Mr Greaves said he did not tell Mr Innes to seek additional
advice from an ecologist.
<br />
<br />
However, as it was Mr Innes' obligation to ensure he complied
with the district plan rule on indigenous vegetation
clearance, it would have been prudent to do so, he said.
<br />
<br />
''So every time a farmer wants to clear his or her land and
they're not sure whether they've got any indigenous
vegetation on it, they're going to have to secure the
assistance of an ecologist?'' Mr Innes' lawyer, Jan Caunter,
asked, to which Mr Greaves replied, ''Yes.''
<br />
<br />
Both Mr Bretherton and Mr Greaves agreed with commissioner
John Mills there was nothing to indicate Mr Innes was
''anything but straightforward'' and had acted on the best
information available to him.
<br />
Earlier, Mr Mills asked Forest and Bird field officer Jen
Miller for her view of the council's response to Mr Innes'
inquiries.
<br />
<br />
''To be frank, if I was Mr Innes I would feel less than
satisfied. I think it was not really giving him any direction
either way ... Perhaps the council might have been more
helpful to him in terms of the information they had
available,'' Ms Miller said.
<br />
<br />
Wanaka landscape architect Anne Steven, appearing for Forest
and Bird, acknowledged it was ''somewhat unreasonable'' to
expect Mr Innes, as a private rural landowner, to be aware of
the ecological information relating to the land.
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes also took the stand.
<br />
<br />
''I've invested our entire savings in this property . . . and
I didn't intend to be in this position we are now,'' he told
the court.
<br />
<br />
Asked by Forest and Bird lawyer Sally Gepp whether he would
keep cultivating the land if the interim enforcement order
was cancelled, Mr Innes responded: ''I intend to farm the
property, so yes, that's the reason I purchased it.''
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes' planner, Duncan White, told the court the
attendance of many farmers at the hearing reflected concerns
in the farming community about the wider implications of the
interim enforcement order against Mr Innes.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-71781491554860089142014-03-25T08:48:00.000+13:002014-03-26T08:49:36.497+13:00"We Have A Rule In The Plan ..."<b>We have a rule in the plan</b><br />
By Lucy Ibbotson, on Tuesday 25 March 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times <br />
<br />
A young family facing ''financial ruin'' must be given the
same consideration as the protection of ecological values on
Hawea Flat land, it was submitted in the Environment Court in
Queenstown yesterday.
<br />
<br />
A hearing is being held this week to consider cancellation of
an interim enforcement order requiring farmer Dougal Innes to
stop clearance of native vegetation on land he has a purchase
agreement on above the Clutha River at Hawea Flat.
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes has already cleared a large amount of vegetation and
carried out discing on the land, which has been assessed by
government departments as having high conservation values.
<br />
<br />
The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
deemed Mr Innes' actions illegal and successfully applied to
the Environment Court for the interim enforcement order.
<br />
<br />
It was served on Mr Innes, as respondent, and the Queenstown
Lakes District Council earlier this month, around the same
time the council issued an abatement notice on Mr Innes.
<br />
<br />
However, in written legal submissions, Mr Innes' lawyer Jan
Caunter said her client had consulted the council and was at
no stage advised he needed resource consent.
<br />
<br />
''If we had somebody who had flagrantly breached the
[district] plan that would be quite different. But that is
not what has occurred here,'' Ms Caunter told the court.
<br />
<br />
''... It is submitted that the information provided to Mr
Innes by the council and the implication that no resource
consent was required is relevant to the court's assessment.''
<br />
<br />
The court needed to consider not only the potential for
damage to any indigenous vegetation on the site, but the
impact on Mr Innes of not being able to complete the
cultivation work, which would leave him with ''no reasonable
use of his land'', Ms Caunter said.
<br />
<br />
''Mr Innes and his young family are facing financial ruin if
the land is protected from further development,'' her written
summary of background facts stated.
<br />
<br />
Forest and Bird lawyer Peter Anderson said the effects on the
environment of cancelling the interim enforcement order were
a ''critical'' consideration and should be the focus, rather
than the effects on the parties.
<br />
<br />
He said if there was a strong case for an enforcement order
and if there was likely to be significant irreparable adverse
effects if the interim order was cancelled, there would need
to be a ''highly compelling reason'' for its cancellation.
<br />
<br />
Ms Caunter said given the ''significant'' level of
disagreement among the lawyers, planners and ecologists
involved in the case on how the district plan rules relating
to indigenous vegetation should be interpreted, it would be
especially difficult for a layperson such as Mr Innes to
accurately interpret them.
<br />
<br />
''There are lots of different ways of looking at the rule and
that in itself is causing me great concern, that we have a
rule in the plan that nobody understands.''
<br />
<br />
Judge John Hassan instructed ecologists acting for Mr Innes,
Forest and Bird and the council to jointly respond to a
series of questions aimed at providing clarity on the
definition of indigenous vegetation. They will report back to
the court today.
<br />
<br />
The hearing is expected to continue until Thursday, when the
court will issue a verbal decision on whether the interim
enforcement order is to be confirmed or cancelled.
<br />
<br />
Dairy farmer James Cooper, a neighbour of the site, and
Federated Farmers are interested parties in the court
process.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-10103199817312556052014-03-15T10:51:00.000+13:002014-03-15T10:54:23.662+13:00Court Date For Hearing<b>Court date for hearing</b><br />
By Mark Price, on Saturday 15 March 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
The Environment Court will begin a two-day hearing of a Hawea Flat land dispute in the Queenstown Court on March 24.<br />
<br />
The hearing is the result of an enforcement order obtained from the court by the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society on March 3.<br />
<br />
The society objected to the ploughing of the 590ha area of land above the Clutha River at South Hawea Flat, near Wanaka.<br />
<br />
Canterbury West Coast field officer Jen Miller told the Otago Daily Times a pre-hearing conference between the parties was held on Thursday.<br />
<br />
The action the society has taken is against Dugald Innes, who is understood to have a right to purchase the land in question from Big River Paradise Ltd.<br />
<br />
Neighbour James Cooper is listed in court documents as an interested party. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-18159857887559805442014-03-08T09:50:00.000+13:002014-03-10T10:43:26.090+13:00Land Had "Very High Natural Values"<b>Land had 'very high natural values'</b><br />
By Mark Price, on Saturday 8 March 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Thirty years ago, the Labour government of the day sent
groups of scientists off on a mission. They were asked to
find the parts of the landscape that still reflected the way
New Zealand was before people began making changes. One of
the Recommended Areas for Protection (RAPs) they came up with
was a 590ha area of land above the Clutha River at South
Hawea Flat, near Wanaka. Last month that RAP went under the
plough. Mark Price reports.</b>
<br />
<br />
On the road between Luggate and Hawea Flat your eye is
drawn west to the majestic snow-capped mountains of Mt
Aspiring National Park.
<br />
<br />
The flat land in the foreground barely registers.
<br />
<br />
But this land - 590ha of half-cultivated dry grass and
tussock along Kane Rd - has suddenly become a battleground
between conservationists and farmers.
<br />
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/294346/legalised-theft-eckhoff" target="_blank">Legalised theft: Eckhoff... </a>
</li>
</ul>
Two months ago, a digger began dragging kanuka, scrub and the
odd pine tree into heaps.
<br />
<br />
Two weeks ago, a tractor towing a chunky set of discs started
turning over the topsoil.
<br />
<br />
By the time the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
obtained an Environment Court enforcement order on Monday,
the agricultural contractor had already left the field.
<br />
<br />
However, the order means the farmer cannot seed, water or
fertilise the land until the matter has been settled in
court.
<br />
<br />
Conservationists know the land in question as South Hawea
Flat, Lindis RAP (A12) - RAP standing for Recommended Area
for Protection.
<br />
<br />
Correspondence between Forest and Bird and the Queenstown
Lakes District Council over the farmer's cultivation has
focused on the rarity of the land's native plants.
<br />
<br />
But the man who helped establish Lindis RAP (A12) and other
RAPs in the Upper Clutha emphasises there is more to the
issue.
<br />
<br />
Now retired from the Department of Conservation and living in
Gisborne, Dr Chris Ward told the Otago Daily Times last week
Lindis RAP (A12) was recommended for protection 30 years ago
because it represented a landscape that was in danger of
disappearing entirely.
<br />
<br />
''The essence of the value of places like this is not simply
the rare species.
<br />
<br />
''It's actually about having the whole system of the landform
and the ecological and geological history of the land and the
soils and the vegetation that goes with the whole system.
<br />
<br />
''It reflects a large proportion of the character of the
Upper Clutha.''
<br />
<br />
Dr Ward said when they started looking for places still in
their native state, they already had ''very little to start
with''.
<br />
<br />
''The whole context was to identify the best of what remained
and then seek its protection rather than see everything
degraded to minuscule remnants. These areas - whatever their
degree of modification - they still had very high natural
values.''
<br />
<br />
Dr Ward said Lindis RAP (A12) combined the high terrace of
Hawea Flat and the drop-off to a set of low terraces leading
to the Clutha River.
<br />
<br />
''The whole point of it was that it was very much undeveloped
in the pastoral sense and had large amounts of its indigenous
character - though obviously highly modified through grazing
and fire.''
<br />
<br />
The report he helped produce noted the area's ''excellent
terrace sequence''.
<br />
<br />
''The total extent of the RAP, although considerable, is
little more than 1% of the original extent of terrace
landforms dominated by fescue tussockland and shrubland in
the Upper Clutha, and barely sufficient to give an adequate
visual impression of the earlier landscape.''
<br />
<br />
While its vegetation had been ''strongly modified'' by
grazing and fire, the report described what remained as
''substantially native communities''.
<br />
<br />
The report suggested the reasons the land had not been
developed further were because the soils were ''among the
poorest of the flatlands'' and irrigation water was
relatively inaccessible.
<br />
<br />
Reflecting on the many RAPs he helped identify in the 1980s,
Dr Ward said there had been ''more grief than satisfaction''
over how they had fared.
<br />
<br />
While some had been formally protected, many had not.
<br />
<br />
''It's the old problem that every success in conservation is
temporary and every loss is permanent.''
<br />
<br />
''When an area is protected, or a decision is made not to
destroy something, it can be seen as a victory or a gain for
conservation. But it's always temporary because these things
can be reversed.
<br />
<br />
Dr Ward said the cultivation of Lindis RAP (A12) was another
of the losses in a world system with a bias against
conservation.
<br />
<br />
''What's left of the natural scheme of things is always being
whittled away, and every generation seems to take another
chunk of it.
<br />
<br />
''I'm sure there will be people who will say there was an
awful lot of this [Upper Clutha land]. But if every
generation takes 60% of what's remaining and leaves 40%,
thinking that's being generous, then that becomes two-thirds
of five-eighths of [not much].''
<br />
<br />
Revealing his geological background, Dr Ward said a ''key
part'' of the value of an area like Lindis RAP (A12) was its
soil.
<br />
<br />
''The discs turning over the soil have already done
irreversible damage. You can't undo that.
<br />
<br />
''The actual soil profile ... is a reflection of the
geological and human history up until now.
<br />
<br />
''Getting to the guts of natural character is recognising
that an undisturbed soil is a key part.''
<br />
<br />
RAPs were a product of the Protected Natural Areas Programme
(PNAP) that began in 1983.
<br />
<br />
The programme was intended to protect native landscape
features and provide the government with a basis for
negotiation with landowners about formal protection.
<br />
<br />
It was controversial at the time, with some landowners
refusing survey parties access, believing they could lose the
parts of their properties identified as RAPs.
<br />
<br />
Philip Woollaston, associate minister for the environment
(1987-88) and minister of conservation (1989-90) told the ODT
the surveying ''tapered off'' after the 1980s, for economic
reasons.
<br />
<br />
''It was never formally abandoned but just withered on the
branch because of cost-cutting.''
<br />
Some RAPs got protection via the tenure review process, and
by other means, but Lindis RAP (A12) was not one of those.
<br />
<br />
A report done for the QLDC in February last year by ecologist
Rebecca Lawrence did, however, recommend part of the RAP be
''taken forward'' for further consideration as ''significant
indigenous vegetation and fauna habitat''.
<br />
<br />
That would put Lindis RAP (A12) in the district plan and
would require the landowner to gain resource consent before
carrying out the type of work that has now been done.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<b>Protected areas</b> Recommended Areas of Protection
(RAPs):
<br />
The land known as South Hawea Flat, Lindis RAP (A12) is one
of 19 RAPs in section 4 of a 1980s document called the
Lindis, Pisa and Dunstan Ecological Districts Survey Report
for Protected Natural Areas.
<br />
<br />
The others are:
<br />
Double Peak, Chain Hills, Dip Creek (two), Morven Hills,
Grandview Creek, Hospital Creek, Lagoon Creek, East Camp
Creek, West Camp Creek, Long Gully, Long Gully Terrace, Upper
Smiths Creek, North Lindis Pass, Mid Breast Creek, Grandview
Tops, West Chain Hills, Lindis Crossing.
<br />
The report also lists RAPs in the Pisa and Dunstan areas.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-80895464579572769622014-03-05T10:26:00.000+13:002014-03-05T10:30:48.442+13:00Environment Court Halts Development <b>Environment Court halts development</b><br />
By Lucy Ibbotson, on Tuesday 4 March 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
The Environment Court and the Queenstown Lakes District
Council have halted further development of a controversial
piece of land above the Clutha River at Hawea Flat.
<br />
<br />
An interim enforcement order was issued by the Environment
Court yesterday and served on farmer Dugald Innes, as
respondent, and the council, following an application by the
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society on Friday.
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes had cleared native vegetation and ploughed the land,
which has been assessed by government departments as having
high conservation values. His actions were deemed illegal by
Forest and Bird.
<br />
<br />
The court order prevents Mr Innes from further clearance of
indigenous vegetation as defined by the Queenstown Lakes
district plan, or from watering, irrigating, oversowing or
top-dressing any part of the subject land.
<br />
<br />
Environment Court Judge John Hassan said while evidence
provided by Forest and Bird was limited, it appeared there
was a ''real risk of irreparable environmental damage''.
<br />
<br />
He said the urgency of the situation, as a result of the
recent ploughing of the site, was ''not of the applicant's
making''.
<br />
<br />
''The evidence shows a history of exchanges in recent weeks
between the applicant and the council, in terms of which the
applicant was urging that the council investigate and act.''
<br />
<br />
Council general manager, planning and development, Marc
Bretherton told the <i>ODT</i> on Friday - the same day the
agricultural contractor was seen leaving the site - that
based on the council's assessment of the situation and legal
advice, it had not issued an abatement notice nor any other
form of enforcement proceedings.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbZQ4U91NVYKdy6X41O8Q5sSnhKSgS4r0gsExXtdO8z5mp6x8vq1tNYSkAD7yLE0MmKvL5hCNDYg-GFvC4epIY_QXCjnwUi3byNxrBczLzca4YAunEwsiuCXXL_xVLOTVIa_toNGero0/s1600/last-tractor-leaving-8-15am-2014-02-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbZQ4U91NVYKdy6X41O8Q5sSnhKSgS4r0gsExXtdO8z5mp6x8vq1tNYSkAD7yLE0MmKvL5hCNDYg-GFvC4epIY_QXCjnwUi3byNxrBczLzca4YAunEwsiuCXXL_xVLOTVIa_toNGero0/s1600/last-tractor-leaving-8-15am-2014-02-28.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last tractor leaving the site early on Friday morning (28 Feb)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
However, yesterday, QLDC lawyers advised Forest and Bird the
council issued an abatement notice on Mr Innes on Saturday
evening and would be serving abatement notices on landowners
Big River Paradise Ltd and Sharyn Campbell yesterday
afternoon.
<br />
<br />
QLDC senior communications adviser Michele Poole said because
the matter was before the court the council would not make
any further comment as it was ''not appropriate to do so''.
<br />
<br />
Forest and Bird field officer Jen Miller said the society had
never undertaken an application for an interim enforcement
order before, but ''believed such a serious step was
warranted because of the significance of the vegetation and
the failure of council to take what it considered appropriate
action''.
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes could challenge the interim order, in which case
there would be a hearing at short notice, Ms Miller said.
<br />
<br />
''The interim order is effectively maintaining the status quo
while the court process on whether enforcement orders should
be issued ... runs its course. This is likely to involve an
evidence exchange and a hearing ... [and] take a few
months.''
<br />
<br />
Forest and Bird had indicated it would modify its enforcement
order application once it had more advice on what was needed
to rehabilitate the site.
<br />
<br />
The court decision states the interim order will no longer
apply if Mr Innes obtains a resource consent for the
prohibited activities, which are considered discretionary
under the district plan.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-22147117501748912662014-03-03T09:44:00.001+13:002014-03-03T09:44:45.494+13:00Court Order Sought<b>Court order sought</b><br />
By Mark Price, on Monday 3 March 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society has gone to the
Environment Court to stop further cultivation of 590ha of
land above the Clutha River at south Hawea Flat.
<br />
<br />
Society field officer Jen Miller told the Otago Daily Times
yesterday the society regarded the clearance and cultivation
of the land last month as illegal.
<br />
<br />
Lawyers for the society had lodged an application for an
interim enforcement order, which compels a landowner to
comply with the Resource Management Act or a district plan.
<br />
<br />
The move follows the society's dissatisfaction with the
Queenstown Lakes District Council's handling of the matter.
<br />
<br />
Clutha Mata-Au River Parkway Group spokesman Lewis Verduyn-Cassels
said he watched the agricultural contractor leave the site on
Friday morning.
<br />
<br />
''Most of the site has been trashed,'' Verduyn-Cassels said.
<br />
<br />
''It's an ecological disaster. That's what it is.''
<br />
<br />
He recounted to the Otago Daily Times the names of rare
native plants that had been ploughed up.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOATGQ-NgjByPIVIWx8jwXNUDuwpimQLgryGGZhCuKUk0-lll4vDZdlvbVHPOpHAvBr9-zj4TAk6VB_hgaRFMhSq2b_ZwgSATdzRb4VIo1nxDDtRgWYO_kntOYQspXMgIGjMj4tjPEQfM/s1600/before-after-pimelea-pulvinaris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOATGQ-NgjByPIVIWx8jwXNUDuwpimQLgryGGZhCuKUk0-lll4vDZdlvbVHPOpHAvBr9-zj4TAk6VB_hgaRFMhSq2b_ZwgSATdzRb4VIo1nxDDtRgWYO_kntOYQspXMgIGjMj4tjPEQfM/s1600/before-after-pimelea-pulvinaris.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and after ploughing of Pimelea pulvinaris</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx-i1HGSUuHLOLUuQH5T6jl0ctGjm2A-WCZXFc-gtgpyMKNibIsuaCKWrnC2FVxpIq_KrpRLZ59gPFR0Hc454SqYQja9gdEfwMg8ttqc2sH3U-XY6VojdsMghd-8-Y7A339Ska4zaU3E/s1600/before-after-raoulia-australis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx-i1HGSUuHLOLUuQH5T6jl0ctGjm2A-WCZXFc-gtgpyMKNibIsuaCKWrnC2FVxpIq_KrpRLZ59gPFR0Hc454SqYQja9gdEfwMg8ttqc2sH3U-XY6VojdsMghd-8-Y7A339Ska4zaU3E/s1600/before-after-raoulia-australis.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and after ploughing of Raoulia australis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Council general manager, planning and development, Marc
Bretherton said in an email to the ODT the council's district
plan contained a list of threatened plants, and rules which
referred to the list.
<br />
<br />
''The ecological report specific to the property in question
identifies a single species as threatened.
<br />
<br />
''This species is not included in the district plan.''
<br />
<br />
Mr Bretherton said also that, contrary to media reports, the
council had never said resource consent was not required for
the cultivation work.
<br />
<br />
It investigated the concerns of the society and visited the
site last Thursday where it ''confirmed that no breach of the
district plan had occurred''.
<br />
<br />
''Acting on the information available, there was no basis for
issuing an abatement notice or commencing enforcement
proceedings,'' he said.
<br />
<br />
''When site-specific ecological advice was subsequently
obtained, the landowner was contacted to advise that an
ecological report and possibly resource consent would be
required.
<br />
<br />
''At this point, council became aware that the site had been
ploughed.''
<br />
<br />
Mr Bretherton said the council had ''not issued an abatement
notice nor any other form of enforcement proceedings''.
Forest and Bird lawyer Peter Anderson has written to the
council advising it to issue the landowner with an abatement
notice to remediate the ''damage''.
<br />
<br />
He called for a ''thorough'' ecological survey, the site not
to be watered, oversown or topdressed, all grazing to cease
and rabbit control to be carried out.
<br />
<br />
The council's website shows the land is owned by Big River
Paradise Ltd.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-38399262190799292772014-02-28T22:48:00.000+13:002014-03-03T09:47:34.264+13:00Cultivation Legal Opinion Sought<b>Cultivation legal opinion sought</b><br />
By Mark Price, on Friday 28 February 2014<br />
Otago Daliy Times<br />
<br />
The Queenstown Lakes District Council is seeking a legal
opinion over the cultivation of land at south Hawea Flat,
near Wanaka.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueMmt4jdh8lziHGZkzbi8VMkpi1iV0jT7AMg4XHOEDRSIaMHamINwVzJvz-kFm4dc1TBULzwlu6gxvTONVT-4w7QSXJsxLX7mdP5NIE92XoqP3_h4q_pefpslNti3xHOHMZwf2L9L8eA/s1600/before-after-upper-clutha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueMmt4jdh8lziHGZkzbi8VMkpi1iV0jT7AMg4XHOEDRSIaMHamINwVzJvz-kFm4dc1TBULzwlu6gxvTONVT-4w7QSXJsxLX7mdP5NIE92XoqP3_h4q_pefpslNti3xHOHMZwf2L9L8eA/s1600/before-after-upper-clutha.jpg" height="400" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and after clearance of threatened vegetation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The council initially told landowner Dugald Innes consent was
not required and cultivation began.<br />
<br />
Then, after taking ''site-specific ecological advice'' on
Monday, the council told Mr Innes an ecological report ''and
possibly resource consent'' would be required.
<br />
<br />
In response to an <i>Otago Daily Times</i> request for
clarification of the council's position yesterday, general
manager, planning and development, Marc Bretherton said the
council was seeking a ''more detailed legal opinion''.
<br />
<br />
''Once we have received it, we will be better placed to
determine what, if any, further action is required.''
<br />
<br />
The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
has strongly criticised the council for allowing cultivation
without resource consent, as it says the land is ecologically
important.
<br />
<br />
It has warned it could take Environment Court action against
the council for failing in its district plan obligations.
<br />
<br />
A visit to the site by the <i>ODT</i> yesterday found
cultivation work being carried out. However, a council
spokeswoman said later this was on land next to the area the
society was concerned about.
<br />
<br />
Forest and Bird acting Otago-Southland field officer Jen
Miller said even this work required the council to be sure
resource consent was not required.
<br />
<br />
''I think what we are witnessing here is an extraordinary
litany of council ineptitude.
<br />
<br />
''On Thursday of last week, they had all the information they
needed to at least raise some red flags around the legality
of the work that was being carried out.''
<br />
<br />
Ms Miller said the society had made several attempts to
contact the council yesterday but had received no response.
<br />
<br />
Mr Innes has not responded to <i>ODT</i> messages.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-16908448791979338292014-02-26T22:45:00.000+13:002014-02-26T22:53:39.844+13:00Council Changes View On Cultivation<div class="title-node title-node-293086">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Council changes view on cultivation of farmland</span></b> </div>
<div class="title-node title-node-293086">
By Lucy Ibbotson and Mark Price, on Wednesday 26 February 2014</div>
<div class="title-node title-node-293086">
Otago Daily Times </div>
<div class="title-node title-node-293086">
<br /></div>
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has had a change of
heart over allowing the cultivation of land considered to be
ecologically important.
<br />
<br />
Last week, the council told a south Hawea Flat farmer he
could plough his land without resource consent, but
yesterday, after much of the land had already been ploughed
or cleared of vegetation, it said consent could be needed
after all.
<br />
<br />
Concerns were raised last week by the Royal Forest and Bird
Protection Society of New Zealand - along with a Landcare
Research scientist, the Clutha Mata-Au River Parkway group,
Wanaka landscape architect Anne Steven and members of the
public - about the alleged ''unlawful'' clearance of native
vegetation on the private land on the true left of the Clutha
River, upriver of Kane Rd.
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qZqaK-X6JwZO9GBEp10HgVVgN2FcCMtSkz_xvbg6uRCjn5-WDFA0L9yuls4IvAiNLNWsQqnAx-u1IxYXNcPuOav-8FltGSGwp8AdB7NJiYou9UIJq2Vvo1_c9y8XGYNa5gzMBVlslt8/s1600/SouthHaweaFlat-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qZqaK-X6JwZO9GBEp10HgVVgN2FcCMtSkz_xvbg6uRCjn5-WDFA0L9yuls4IvAiNLNWsQqnAx-u1IxYXNcPuOav-8FltGSGwp8AdB7NJiYou9UIJq2Vvo1_c9y8XGYNa5gzMBVlslt8/s1600/SouthHaweaFlat-2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click photo to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They considered the land should be protected because of its
rare and threatened ecosystems.
<br />
<br />
Forest and Bird acting Otago-Southland field officer Jen
Miller wrote to the QLDC requesting the clearance work be
stopped until the owner had sought consent.
<br />
<br />
The landowner referred to in email correspondence between
QLDC and Forest and Bird was Dugald Innes, who did not return
calls yesterday.
<br />
<br />
In a letter to the QLDC yesterday, Forest and Bird lawyer
Peter Anderson said the clearance activity breached the
ecological provisions of the district plan, which the council
had an obligation to enforce.
<br />
<br />
''It has failed to fulfil this obligation.''
<br />
<br />
Forest and Bird could refer the matter to the Environment
Court or the Office of the Ombudsman, Mr Anderson wrote,
unless the council instructed the landowner to cease the work
and reinstate the site as much as possible.
<br />
<br />
He acknowledged the council could do very little to rectify
the situation, as Mr Innes ''will simply and correctly say, I
undertook this activity with the council's approval''.
<br />
<br />
''That the approval was given in error does not alter the
fact that highly significant values have been destroyed.''
<br />
<br />
Yesterday, council general manager, planning and development,
Marc Bretherton told the <i>Otago Daily Times</i> the council
had investigated the concerns soon as it was aware of them
and a site visit last Thursday confirmed there was no breach
of the district plan.
<br />
<br />
''Acting on the information available and in accordance with
legal advice, there was no basis for issuing any form of
enforcement proceedings prior to the weekend,'' Mr Bretherton
said.
<br />
<br />
However, after site-specific ecological advice was obtained
on Monday, the landowner was contacted yesterday morning and
told ''an ecological report and possibly resource consent''
would be required.
<br />
<br />
''At this point the council became aware that the site had
been ploughed. We are still assessing whether any further
action is appropriate.''
<br />
<br />
Ms Miller said once dryland farms were converted to irrigated
land for more intensive development, rare ecosystems were
lost forever.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-38129144289090898562014-01-24T08:58:00.000+13:002014-01-24T08:59:23.506+13:00Almost 'A Clyde To Lawrence Trail'<b>Almost 'a Clyde to Lawrence trail'</b><br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
By Sarah Marquet, on Friday 24 January 2014<br />
<br />
The Millenium track, between Clyde and Alexandra, the
Roxburgh Gorge Trail and the Clutha Gold Trail are being seen
by many cyclists as a package deal, Clutha trail trust chairman
Rod Peirce says.<br />
<br />
''There seems to be a lot of people doing both trails and ...
there seems to be an association with the Clyde river trail
[Millenium Track], the Roxburgh Gorge and Clutha Gold trails
- it's almost like a Clyde to Lawrence trail.''<br />
<br />
The Roxburgh Gorge trail, between Alexandra and the Roxburgh
dam, and the Clutha Gold trail, between the dam and Lawrence,
were officially opened on October 24 last year and were
experiencing ''heavy usage'', Mr Peirce said.
<br />
<br />
The number of cyclists around Roxburgh and Millers Flat
especially was ''phenomenal'' and anecdotal evidence
suggested they were enjoying the trails.
<br />
<br />
Not everyone was opting for the boat trip across the middle
section of the Roxburgh Gorge Trail - many were choosing to
do the trails in segments, he said.
<br />
<br />
The 12km boat trip crosses the middle section where the trail
has not yet been constructed because of various issues with
three properties.
<br />
<br />
That could be about to change for one property though,
Roxburgh Gorge Trail trust member Barrie Wills said.
<br />
<br />
The tenure review process of Obelisk Station was almost
complete.
<br />
<br />
''Chances are that maybe we can get on with continuing the
track later this year, but we'll have to look into
fundraising.'Dr Wills said he had been on the gorge trail
about once a week, tidying things up where needed.
<br />
<br />
That was usually midweek and he would see ''in excess of 30
to 40 people using it, so there would be a lot more in the
weekends.
<br />
<br />
''I see people walking their kids in prams, a lot of bikers
and a lot of walkers too.
<br />
<br />
''I've stopped and talked to a lot of people and they're just
blown away.''
<br />
<br />
With no counters on the trails, exact numbers of users were
unknown but the trusts were considering options to record
usage, both men said.
<br />
<br />
They are looking to install cameras to not only capture how
many people are using the trails but also age groups and
other information about usage.
<br />
<br />
When asked how many $25 maintenance contribution tags had
been sold, Central Otago District Council visitor centres
manager Pam Broadhead said she was no longer able to supply
that information as it was commercially sensitive, but the
trusts would release that information after a meeting later
this month.
<br />
<br />
Mr Peirce estimated between 500 and 600 had been sold and he
would have a clearer idea after a meeting on Monday
afternoon.
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-22831761148849512452014-01-11T09:38:00.001+13:002014-01-11T09:39:37.665+13:00Beaumont's Rising Fortunes<b>Beaumont's Rising Fortunes </b><br />
By John Gibb, on Saturday 11 January 2014<br />
Otago Daily Times<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Moves are afoot to make the small Otago township of
Beaumont the thriving community it once was. John Gibb finds
out about Beaumont's changing fortunes.</b><br />
<b> </b>
<br />
Once a fading rural backwater, the township of Beaumont now
seems destined for a much brighter future.<br />
<br />
People who have lived near the inland Otago township, on the
Clutha River/Mata-au, for 20 years or more will remember
earlier sometimes divisive and frustrating conflicts over
proposed big hydro-electric dams, which would have flooded
the area.<br />
<br />
One proposal, by the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand
(ECNZ) in 1992, was to build a dam at Tuapeka Mouth that
would have flooded 3000ha, including all of Beaumont. But
among a series of more promising developments the
long-delayed replacement work involving the nearby 19th
century Beaumont Bridge is at last due to start next year.<br />
<br />
This is one of the oldest bridges in the country still
operating on a major state highway.<br />
<br />
And more walkers and cyclists are already starting to move
through the township since the 73km-long Clutha Gold Trail-
which runs between Roxburgh and Lawrence, and includes
Beaumont- was opened by Prime Minister John Key on October
24. Long-time resident, historian and writer Bill Dacker (61)
is well aware of the area's previously somewhat mixed
fortunes.<br />
<br />
''It was a little backwater that we enjoyed as a backwater,''
he recalls.<br />
<br />
But then a series of dam proposals came along and changed
everything, he said.<br />
<br />
Some locals, including some facing tough economic times, had
agreed to sell their land.<br />
<br />
Others, including the ''Hands Off Beaumont'' lobbyists, were
determined to resist and to safeguard all they found precious
in the area, including its rich history and its attractive
and distinctive environment.
<br />
Mr Dacker highlights the significance of the bridge
replacement work.<br />
<br />
The current bridge had been around since 1887 and had
struggled to cope with some of the ''huge trucks'' now
passing through.<br />
<br />
Mr Dacker, who is a long-standing member of the Clutha Gold
Trail Trust Board, says the newly opened trail and other
developments mean brighter times are coming for Beaumont,
which will boost the local economy by bringing in more
visitors and potential new residents. Strengthening Beaumont
was also important strategically, because it gave the area a
better chance of influencing its own destiny in future, he
said.
<br />
''Unless we're going to make the place strong in a different
way, other people are [still] going to see it as a
backwater,'' he says.<br />
<br />
Dave Crawford is an experienced jet boater and
co-owner-operator of Beaumont Jet, with his wife Ali, And he
is also a Gold Trail board member.<br />
<br />
It was ''great'' to see the cyclists already starting to flow
along the track, through Beaumont.
<br />
''It can only be good for this area,'' he says.<br />
<br />
When he and his wife moved to Beaumont and began jet boat
operations in 2004, he had long known the area had strong
potential.<br />
<br />
The nearby Clutha River/Mata-au is ''probably the best part
of the Clutha River'', he adds.<br />
<br />
These stretches of the river were also as good as ''anything
in New Zealand'' and offered plenty of variety, including
''huge rapids'' and other ecologically appealing areas.<br />
<br />
And he is not content with Beaumont being one of the region's
and New Zealand's best-kept secrets.
<br />
''The more people the better.''<br />
<br />
Mr Dacker, who these days divides his time between Beaumont
and Port Chalmers, has lived in Beaumont for much of his
life, having grown up there.<br />
<br />
His father, Harry Dacker, had initially found work there as a
rabbiter in the 1920s.<br />
<br />
Bill Dacker said the idea of building a''cycle-cum-walking
trail through the district, along the river and through the
farmland to Lawrence, was a direct response - a way of
creating economic opportunity by bringing people into this
area as well as the other areas connected by the trail''.<br />
<br />
The idea had come from the trust's Roxburgh-based chairman,
Rod Peirce, who was a ''retired orchardist from Millers Flat
with long-standing connections in Beaumont as well as to the
other communities along the trail.''<br />
<br />
The lessees of the Beaumont Hotel had also contributed to the
upturn in Beaumont's fortunes by continuing to develop and
support ''events tailored to hunters and fishermen while
adding cyclists to those they wish to give hospitality to''.<br />
<br />
And the pub also served ''the best blue cod meals this side
of Iceland'', Mr Dacker said.<br />
<br />
Widespread support from the Beaumont community for the trust,
as well as backing from ''other communities connected by the
trail'', had been key to the success of the trail
development.<br />
<br />
This sense of unity and support stood in ''stark contrast to
divisions in the communities'' sparked by the ECNZ dam
proposal in 1992, and was ''a wonderful thing to
experience''.<br />
<br />
Alison Mills, who leases the hotel with her husband, Gunni
Egilsson, is also optimistic about the future, and says
patrons with different interests and from range of
backgrounds, including tourists, were using the hotel and
nearby camping ground.<br />
<br />
Mr Dacker noted there had been some ''recent controversy''
over suggestions of fees for using the trail.
<br />
He emphasised there was no official fee for using it, ''but
the trust asks for a koha [donation], a contribution for its
maintenance from its users as at the moment the trust is
solely responsible for costs of its maintenance''.<br />
<br />
Mr Peirce (76) said there were early signs that the new trail
would prove positive, and help revive smaller communities
such as Beaumont and Millers Flat.<br />
<br />
''It's very satisfying. There's a general air of
enthusiasm.''<br />
<br />
Mr Peirce, who was also once chairman of the Friends of
Beaumont group, had opposed various proposals to establish
big new dams nearby.<br />
<br />
And he is positive about the new trail's benefits.<br />
<br />
''I thought, if there's any legacy I can leave, it may well
be more like the trail, which is more positive, rather than
being an activist against everything.<br />
<br />
''I'd like to be seen as someone who left something for the
benefit of the community.''<br />
<br />
People were already starting to come from far afield to ride
or walk the new trail, and local families were also enjoying
it.<br />
<br />
''We've had a tremendous amount of support from Contact
Energy.''<br />
<br />
And $3.8 million from the Government's New Zealand Cycle
Trail project funding had been used to support the trail's
development. Through the years Mr Peirce has noticed rural
decline, including loss of population and services, in some
of the smaller communities.<br />
<br />
''It's very positive. I think that the smaller villages will
definitely gain a tremendous amount over the next several
years and into the future from the trail.''<br />
<br />
And Beaumont was already looking up. The school had closed
some decades ago, but ''rural visitors'' were increasing and
the pub was humming - ''it's quite a busy little pub'', Mr
Peirce said.<br />
<br />
The gold trail was also good for Millers Flat - ''it's the
only town that the trail actually goes right through the
middle of.''<br />
<br />
And Mr Dacker highlights Beaumont's distinctive geographical
position, and its historical significance.<br />
<br />
Beaumont is the first crossing place of the Clutha
River/Mata-au when travelling on SH8 from Milton to Central
Otago, and its many attractions. And the area was ''one of
the major entrance and exit points'' for the Clutha Gold
Trail walkway.<br />
<br />
The Clutha River/Mata-au is one of the outstanding natural
features of the newly opened trail, which follows the river
''on its journey across the river flats below Roxburgh,
through the Beaumont Gorge, before it turns toward Lawrence
at Beaumont'', Mr Dacker says. The river crosses the Beaumont
Flat and then passes through the Rongahere Gorge, the ''last
major river flat and gorge respectively of the schist
peneplain or block mountain system of the Central Otago
highlands''.<br />
<br />
Beaumont was a true border between very different
geographical zones.<br />
<br />
''On the Rongahere side the climate is wetter and cooler,
more like that of coastal Otago than Central Otago. On the Beaumont Gorge side the climate is hotter and drier,
marking the beginning of Central Otago proper.''<br />
<br />
The Maori name for the district is Te Kohai and here the
ancestors of Kai Tahu Whanui also crossed the river, but on
mokihi (traditional rafts), on their journeys into the
interior.<br />
<br />
There was also once a moa-hunting era village at Beaumont.<br />
<br />
The town of Beaumont grew around the river crossing, where a
ferry operated, accompanied by a supporting structure of
hotels and shops. The natural vegetation of the nearby gorges
reflected the ''borderland'' characteristics.<br />
<br />
The dominant tree on Upper Birch Island - also known locally
as Native Island - in the Beaumont Gorge is mountain beech,
indicating the drier and hotter conditions there. The far
larger Birch Island, or Moanui, in the Rongahere Gorge below
Beaumont, and the bush of the gorge itself, has a covering of
a mixed podocarp forest that includes sphagnum moss, mountain
and silver beech as well as totara and matai.<br />
<br />
''Both the gorge and the island are home to rare and nearly
extinct insect species, protected on the island from rat
predation by the swift waters of the river,'' Mr Dacker says.<br />
<br />
''Beaumont's fortunes have fluctuated over the years
according to major changes in the economic, gold-mining and
agricultural history of the province.''<br />
<br />
First the search for gold, then the arrival of the railways
and the rise of horticulture on the river flats of Central
Otago followed by the development of exotic forest
plantations in the Blue Mountains all contributed to its
growth.<br />
<br />
But, subsequently, the closure of the railway branch line,
the decline in gold extraction, the rise of large land
holdings, changes in the horticultural sector, and finally
the closure of the Beaumont Forest headquarters had also
contributed to the community shrinking.<br />
<br />
Closures of the railway, shops, the race track, churches and
the school had all followed ''but always a significant
minority clung on'' and many people, including some who had
left, showed ''a remarkable dedication to the area'', Mr
Dacker said.<br />
<br />
And he emphasises that, for the first time in 40 years, there
were ''signs of growth at Beaumont again''.
<br />
Margaret Healy, who helped organise a series of ''Back to
Beaumont'' days, held over the years, has always been
optimistic about the township's future.<br />
<br />
''The aim is to get people and their families to come back to
their grassroots, reminisce and enjoy Beaumont,'' she said.<br />
<br />
It was a great place to raise a family and she was keen for
Beaumont to become a ''thriving community'' again.<br />
<br />
<hr size="2" width="100%" />
<b>Beaumont</b><br />
• Beaumont is a township on State Highway 87, at a crossing
of the Clutha Mata-Au River, close to Central Otago, between
Balclutha and Roxburgh, and is 6km southeast from Raes
Junction.
<br />
• The township is one of the main entry and exit points on
the 73km-long Clutha Gold Trail, between Lawrence and
Roxburgh.
<br />
• The gold trail's development was backed by $3.8 million in
New Zealand Cycle Trail project funding and was opened by
Prime Minister John Key in October.
<br />
• The trail includes parts of an old Maori trail, sections of
the former railway line route, and parts of a former road.
<br />
• An earlier proposal in 1992 by ECNZ was to build a dam at
Tuapeka Mouth that would have flooded several thousand
hectares, including all of Beaumont.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-123904529429617132013-12-16T08:24:00.001+13:002013-12-16T08:26:28.883+13:00Long Gully Reserve Comes To Fruition<b>Long Gully Reserve Comes To Fruition</b><br />
By Mark Price, on Monday 16 December 2013 <br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
To ensure they get the best view of the new Matu scientific
reserve, near Wanaka, visitors are advised to get down on
their hands and knees.<br />
<br />
That way, there is the chance of spotting an extremely rare
Pericoptis frontalis (scarab beetle) or a Hexathele petriei
(tunnel web spider).<br />
<br />
From a distance, the 165ha scientific reserve could easily
appear to be nothing more than a barren piece of wasteland.<br />
<br />
But Dunedin-based Department of Conservation partnership
ranger, biologist John Barkla, told the <i>Otago Daily
Times</i> this week the reserve contains many of the plants
and insects common throughout the Upper Clutha before the
arrival of agriculture.<br />
<br />
''There's a really interesting array of both plants and
animals which don't immediately strike you. But get down on
your hands and knees and you start to see the diversity.''<br />
<br />
The reserve is at Long Gully, and lies between the
Wanaka-Tarras road and the Clutha River, opposite Jolly Rd.<br />
<br />
Mr Barkla said the value of the area was first noted in
1984-85 during a programme that identified the best remaining
examples of indigenous vegetation in districts throughout New
Zealand.<br />
<br />
''That was kind of the starting point to our recognition that
there was something special here.''
<br />
The reserve contains native wasps including one that hunts
tunnel web spiders.<br />
<br />
There are also species of native bees, grasshoppers, cicadas,
moths and butterflies, and birds such as banded dotterel and
pipits had been recorded breeding there.<br />
<br />
Mr Barkla said the land had been ''under threat'' because the
holder of the pastoral lease wanted to install pivot
irrigators.<br />
<br />
''He saw the future for it being in farming.''<br />
<br />
However, during the recently completed tenure review, the
land had become public conservation land.<br />
<br />
''We were successful in persuading Land Information New
Zealand, which manages those leases, that it actually had
higher values for conservation.''<br />
<br />
Mr Barkla said the land had ''dry terrace'' herbs, grasses,
cushion plants and low shrubs that were characteristic of the
Upper Clutha in the past and were now relatively uncommon.<br />
<br />
Two herbs growing in the reserve were considered to be
''threatened''.<br />
<br />
''We regard the Long Gully Terraces there as probably the
largest and most intact example of that semi-arid cushion
terrace vegetation in the Clutha Valley.''<br />
<br />
Mr Barkla said the reserve had some weeds, such as briar and
wilding pine, and rabbits.<br />
<br />
''Rabbits are a bit of a double-edged sword.<br />
<br />
''At moderate levels they can keep the lid on weedy shrub
species and grasses but if you get too many they start to eat
everything.''<br />
<br />
Mr Barkla said the cushion plants were quite hardy, although
users of the river-access track running through the reserve
are requested not to drive on the reserve.<br />
<br />
''For a lot of people, they are going to see it as maybe an
open public space with access to the river - a place where
they can go wandering and enjoy nature on its own terms.<br />
<br />
''You will see vineyards and agricultural developments going
on around it, but it will at least be an area of 165ha which
will be managed for nature.<br />
<br />
''As time goes on, I think people will value that more and
more.''
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-37535338883088446822013-10-12T09:28:00.000+13:002013-10-14T09:33:50.480+13:00Otago Prepares To Open New Cycleways<b>Otago prepares to open new cycleways</b><br />
Saturday 12 October 2013<br />
3 News<br />
<br />
Central Otago's semi-arid dry lands and the green farmlands of the Clutha District in the South Island are being opened up to cyclists and walkers.<br />
<br />
The Roxburgh Gorge Trail and Clutha Gold Trail will be officially opened on October 24 by Finance Minister Bill English, the MP for Clutha-Southland, adding new cycling and walking options near the Otago Central Rail Trail, which already attracts an estimated 12,000 people a year.<br />
<br />
The new trails have been developed by the Roxburgh Gorge Charitable Trust and Clutha Gold Charitable Trust over eight years.<br />
<br />
The Roxburgh Gorge Trail runs 33km from Alexandra to Lake Roxburgh Dam in three stages - a 10km stretch from Alexandra to Doctors Point, a boat transfer to Shingle Creek and a 12km track to Lake Roxburgh Dam.<br />
<br />
Rod Peirce, chair of the Clutha Gold Charitable Trust, said the trails had been the collective vision of so many for so long that opening day would mark the transition from a long-held dream to a reality.<br />
<br />
Cyclists on the Roxburgh Gorge Trail are expected to take between three and six hours, depending on fitness levels, boat transfer connection times, and time taken to view landmarks. Walkers are expected to take eight to 10 hours, including the boat transfer.<br />
<br />
The trail runs down the western side of the Clutha River and most of the route is close to the river.
The Clutha Gold Trail is a one-to-two day easy 73km ride from Lake Roxburgh Village to Lawrence.<br />
<br />
The first stage from Commissioner Flat to Beaumont mainly runs beside the Clutha River before heading along a defunct railway corridor from Beaumont to Lawrence.<br />
<br />
Users are asked to pay $25 per person or $50 for a family, yearly, for a maintenance contribution tag which covers both trails. The charge will not be policed, the Otago Daily Times reports.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-37652696143775939062013-09-13T09:08:00.000+12:002013-12-16T08:27:15.026+13:00Part Of Structure, Trust Chairman Says<b>Part of Structure, Trust Chairman says</b><br />
Friday 13 September 2013<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Cycle trails are becoming increasingly common around
the country and Central Otago is no exception. Inland Otago
Conservation Awards winner Clutha Gold Trail Charitable Trust's
chairman Rod Peirce talks about constructing the 73km-long
trail from Roxburgh to Lawrence.</b>
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>What is it about the project you are involved in that got
you interested in conservation and drives your
work?</b><br />
''It was probably providing easy access to the river bank for
the public, and the historical aspect of the Clutha River
like the dredging remnants. I have lived on the river since
the 1960s. We used to find old dredge buckets and observe the
wrecks of the dredge so I have become, in my mid-70s, part of
the structure of the river. It's been a lifetime of a
developing interest that has come to a peak with this
project.''
<br />
<br />
<b>How does the project you're involved in benefit
conservation?</b><br />
''There's quite a lot of flora down there that we are still
discovering as trustees. Things keep popping up all the time.
For example, across the river, on the opposite side to the
trail, we discovered 600-year-old native totara trees. The
lower Clutha, from Roxburgh through to Beaumont was very rich
with history - gold-mining history and Maori history. It's a
learning curve for us, all the time history is being
uncovered.''
<br />
<br />
<b>What do you get out of your work in
conservation?</b><br />
''There's the enjoyment of dealing with a range of people -
corporate people, archaeologists and contractors. But the
core thing for me - I have always been a tramper, climber and
skier - is that I have got older and found that cycling
really fits the bill for older people. There has been a lot
of physical work to be done in the construction of the trail
and riding it to test it out, so healthwise it's great. It
lengthens my life.''
<br />
<br />
<b>What challenges have you faced and how have they been
overcome?</b><br />
''It's been a huge challenge for the whole trust really
because we are a group of volunteers who have come together
with an idea and are now making it a reality. Negotiating
with landowners [to gain easements] was a challenge. In a lot
of cases we ended up working through a process and resolved
most issues. I think in many cases the landowners were a bit
apprehensive. We were taken to the Environment Court but that
was resolved too.''
<br />
<br />
<b>In what direction do yousee your conservation work going
in the future?</b><br />
''One of the trust's key functions is to maintain the trail
and maintain the quality. It is very important for us to have
a continued sound relationship with our easement providers
and trail neighbours and that's a commitment we gladly take.
We are also prepared to support other groups with similar
projects. What happens in the future, though, is hard to be
exact about.''
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-15507897157484229322013-08-13T09:45:00.000+12:002013-08-13T09:54:20.569+12:00Albert Town Hit Hardest If Dam Fails<strong>Albert Town hit hardest if dam fails</strong><br />
By Sarah Marqet, on Tuesday 13 August 2013<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
If the Lake Hawea Control Dam were to fail, up to 420
properties and 2620 people could be affected, a Contact
Energy-commissioned report says.
<br />
<br />
The September 2011 report outlines potential consequences of
a dam failure and was required as part of the energy
company's standard practice, not because of any concerns with
the dam.
<br />
<br />
It has been made public now due to its inclusion in the
agenda for the Clutha Management Committee meeting on Friday.
<br />
<br />
Albert Town, situated at the confluence of the Hawea and
Clutha Rivers, would be the town most affected, with possibly
158 to 230 properties, two hotels and a campsite flooded.
<br />
<br />
However, providing a breach of the dam was noticed when it
first happened, there would be a three-hour window before the
flood waters reached the town, allowing time for evacuation.
<br />
<br />
Depending on initial water levels in Lake Wanaka, there could
also be extensive damage through Wanaka town with 60
buildings, including hotels, cafes and a supermarket,
affected.
<br />
<br />
Because of the large storage capacity of Lake Wanaka, it
would be three days before the peak level was reached.
<br />
<br />
Three bridges across the Hawea and Clutha Rivers would
probably be destroyed by the flood but the one on State
Highway 8B at Cromwell would not.
<br />
<br />
The ''flood wave'' travel time from Lake Hawea to the upper
reaches of Lake Dunstan would be seven hours, allowing plenty
of warning time for Contact Energy to increase the flow of
water through the Clyde Dam to lower the level of the lake.
<br />
<br />
The Clyde Dam is 94km downstream of the Hawea dam.
<br />
<br />
Water would flow over the top of the Clyde Dam (overtopping)
for up to 26 hours, but it had been designed to withstand
this.
<br />
<br />
Severe bank and river bed erosion could occur, as could
deposits of debris due to the ''heavily wooded banks''.
<br />
<br />
The report, by AECOM New Zealand Ltd, used two dam-failure
scenarios - an earthquake-induced failure and a failure
induced by high lake levels following a ''probable maximum
flood event''.
<br />
It was the latter failure that would cause the most damage.
<br />
<br />
The Lake Hawea Control Dam is an earth-fill dam. The report
says failures of that kind of dam are ''extremely rare but
have occurred in the past as the result of internal erosion
or overtopping''.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973044509729174290.post-76035447032605413742013-06-29T10:12:00.000+12:002013-08-13T09:53:32.800+12:00Irrigation Prospectus Withdrawn <strong>Irrigation prospectus withdrawn </strong><br />
By Lynda van Kempen, on Saturday 29 June 2013<br />
Otago Daily Times<br />
<br />
Tarras Water Ltd has withdrawn its second consecutive
prospectus after failing to find a dry shareholder for its
proposed $36.5 million Tarras irrigation scheme and may have
to ''concede defeat''.
<br />
<br />
The company received a double setback this week when the
Otago Regional Council decided against investing $3.5 million
in the scheme. It had the option to take up 30% of the
''dry'' shares, covering properties which chose not to
irrigate.
<br />
<br />
Because of the regional council's decision, the Central Otago
District Council's support for the scheme also lapsed. It had
agreed to guarantee a bank loan of up to 20% of the capital
cost of the scheme, but only if the regional council
invested.
<br />
<br />
The proposal was to draw water from the Clutha River to
irrigate 5999ha of Tarras land. The scheme aimed to ease
demand on the Lindis River. The regional council said the
company had not met council-imposed conditions and the risk
of not being able to on-sell the dry shares meant the
investment was too risky.
<br />
<br />
Earlier this month, the company withdrew its first
prospectus, after failing to meet its 70% threshold for
''wet'' shareholders. It issued another prospectus with a 65%
threshold for wet shareholders. Yesterday was the closing
date for the latest share offer but it withdrew the
prospectus yesterday afternoon.
<br />
<br />
''Despite its best efforts, Tarras Water Ltd has been unable
to secure interest from a party prepared to be a dry
shareholder within the current prospectus time frame,'' a
statement from the company's board said.
<br />
The company had signalled in the prospectus it needed support
through a dry shareholder, applying for redeemable preference
shares, ''to allow the proposed scheme to be built to
optimise its potential''.
<br />
<br />
It had explored all the options in terms of dry shareholders,
including considering seeking support from the Crown
Irrigation Fund, but the fund would not be functional until
next month, company secretary John Morrison said.
<br />
<br />
''Therefore, the TWL board wishes to advise that as at the
closing date for the prospectus, no shares can be allotted as
terms and conditions of this prospectus will not be met.''
<br />
<br />
Asked yesterday whether the board was ''conceding defeat'',
Mr Morrison said: ''I guess we're conceding, on this
particular scheme.''
<br />
<br />
The board would be meeting soon to ''take stock of where
we're at'' and consider its options, he said.
<br />
<br />
The board's statement said ''mindful of its responsibilities
to the Tarras district, the board will now consider its
options, including any subscription cheques or deposits held
by TWL being returned to their owner''.
<br />
Mr Morrison declined to elaborate on other options being
considered by the board.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0