Ministerial Foreword
I am delighted to announce the largest increase in funding for outdoor recreation on public conservation land ever agreed to by any government as part of Budget 2002.
The $349 million increase over 10 years will effectively double the Department of Conservation's funding for the maintenance of huts, tracks and other facilities.
Many huts are now reaching the end of their useful lives. Past governments often deferred maintenance as a cost-saving measure, which has also impacted on costs.
This Government is the first to have taken a long hard look at the long term sustainability of recreational facilities. We have rejected drastic cuts and instead put in place a funding package that allows DOC to more effectively manage the present network.
I have invited key stakeholders to work in partnership with DOC in a review of all outdoor facilities, particularly tracks, and hope they will continue working together on issues related to the future maintenance of facilities.
Sandra Lee
MINISTER OF CONSERVATION
Introduction
The largest increase in funding for outdoor recreation facilities on the conservation estate agreed by any Government has been announced in the 2002/03 Budget. The additional funding effectively doubles the Department of Conservation's budget for maintaining huts, tracks and other facilities over the next 10 years. It also ensures that New Zealanders will have, for the forseeable future, continued access to the present range of recreational opportunities on public conservation land - which would not have been possible at current levels of funding.
The new funding programme of $349 million over 10 years provides a base for a valuable discussion about how to effectively manage existing recreational opportunities to best meet the needs of all New Zealanders. Within the context of now having a funded recreational facilities programme, decisions are required about the long-term future of, for instance, underutilised facilities, facilities that are unnecessarily duplicated, or those that are simply in the wrong place. It is important these decisions are made after full consultation with the recreation community. The 'bottom line' is that access to the present range of recreational opportunities is assured.
With this goal in mind, the Government has invited the recreational community at national and local levels to participate in a working relationship with the Department to ensure that recreational facilities are provided at agreed levels and standards. One of the first tasks is a review of service standards currently applied to huts and tracks.
There is some flexibility to change these standards, and this will influence the number of facilities that can be maintained.
The new funding programme
The Department will receive $349m of additional funding (including GST) during the next 10 years. This additional funding increases the Department's annual budget for recreation facilities to $82 million a year by 2012.
Over the next 10 years the Government will:
- increase the Department's annual operating budget for recreational facilities (including maintenance) in stages until it reaches an additional $24 million a year by 2012.
- give the Department $3m cash for replacement in 2002/03, rising to almost $25m in 2007/08.
- begin paying accumulated depreciation from 2007/08 (which covers unfunded depreciation since the Department was created) at a rate of $18m a year. Accumulated depreciation is to be paid for 15 years, a total capital injection of $270m.
Background
The new funding programme for recreational facilities is intended to address four key issues affecting the management of recreation facilities:
- past and present agencies have not put sufficient money aside to replace recreational facilities (depreciation);
- maintenance on many existing facilities has been deferred;
- many facilities are ageing ; and
- more rigorous building standards now apply.
The department manages an extensive recreation facilities network on behalf of the community. Successive generations over the last 100 years have developed this network, which now includes:
- over 300 campsites
- 12,500 km of tracks
- 1,030 back-country huts
- 2,130 km of road
- 1,570 toilets
- 570 car parks
- 14,000 bridges, boardwalks and other structures
- 390 amenity areas
The extent of this network was not the result of an overall plan. Rather, the network evolved through successive waves of development and involved several Government agencies and numerous recreation groups. The facilities that were built reflected differing needs and uses over time (for instance wild animal control). Recreational facilities were built to the standards of the day, and were in many cases built with rudimentary materials such as untreated timbers not able to withstand the harsh backcountry environment over time.
Today, the network continues to grow as new areas are added to the public conservation estate, and pressure on facilities grows with increasing numbers of visitors.
Costs of maintaining the recreational network established
For the first time in the lengthy history of providing facilities for outdoor recreation, a complete inventory of recreation facilities has been compiled and the costs of maintaining and replacing them estimated. It would require a trebling of the current budget to maintain all recreation facilities in the long term, some of which receive little use. As well, the current network of recreation facilities is not sustainable without additional funding for a replacement programme over the next 20 years.
Options for providing recreational facilities
The Department presented to the Government fully costed estimates for the longterm provision of recreational facilities. Several funding options were considered, ranging from maintaining all existing facilities to drastically reducing facilities.
The Government did not accept options that required drastic cuts to recreational facilities. It also rejected the option of maintaining the current level of facilities, which assumes that all present facilities are in the right place and meet present needs. In reality there are many recreation facilities that receive little or no use - it makes sense to focus resources on facilities that recreational users are using, across the whole range of recreational experiences.
The Government's preferred approach, announced in the Budget, is to ensure that the present recreation network is managed more effectively. The Department's maintenance budget is doubled while depreciation payments allow recreation facilities to be replaced over the long term. Most importantly, New Zealanders and visitors will have continued access to the full range of recreational opportunities they presently enjoy.
Implications of the budget announcement
The Government's decision establishes a new increased funding base and sets parameters within which the Department and the community can work together to more effectively manage New Zealand's hut and track network into the foreseeable future. Provision for depreciation ensures that recreational facilities can be replaced in future. What is now required is a discussion focused on how to use the substantial budget increase to best to meet the recreational needs of New Zealanders. The Government believes a consultative approach with key stakeholders at national and community levels is the key to making this work in everyone's interests.
Where to from here?
Over the next few months the Department will engage the recreational community at a national level in a discussion about track and hut service standards. Consultations at conservancy level with user groups and interested public will begin in 2003. These consultations will involve a site-by-site evaluation of facilities in each conservancy, and a discussion about the extent to which local recreational groups can become involved in future management of recreational facilities. One model for these consultations that may be useful elsewhere is the Tararua/Aorangi Huts Committee - a joint venture between the various Wellington region tramping clubs and the Wellington Conservancy - which has managed the complex issues involved very successfully.
Track standards review
A track service standards review will commence this year with the objective of determining whether current standards should be changed. Stakeholders will be invited to participate in a working group, and trampers and walkers will be surveyed. The review is programmed to report back in November this year.
Huts standards review
A review of the hut service standards is currently under way. National user groups have participated in a workshop to debate changes to the current standards. Revised hut service standards will be available for stakeholder comment shortly.
Transfer of Management
The recreational opportunities managed by the department are for the enjoyment of all New Zealanders. It follows that where appropriate the management of some of these facilities should be in partnership with the community. Recreation groups could have greater input into the monitoring and maintenance of recreation facilities. While it is unlikely that recreation groups, which are presently involved in the management of about 70 huts, could provide significant additional support for maintenance given their limited resources, they could play a greater role in monitoring and inspecting some recreation facilities.
Process from here
For the remainder of 2002, the Department will:
- Brief the New Zealand Conservation Authority, conservation boards and national recreational organisations and other stakeholders on the implications of the new funding package.
- Review hut and track service standards in consultation with user groups.
- Prepare for consultations beginning in 2003 with local user groups and interested members of the public.
This factsheet is a summary of a more detailed briefing paper, which is available from the Department.
The Department of Conservation's mission is: To conserve New Zealand's natural and historic heritage for all to enjoy now and in the future.
Ko ta Te Papa Atawhai he whakaute he tiaki i nga taonga koiora me nga taonga tuku iho hei painga mo te katoa inaianei, mo ake tonu ake.
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