7. Powers of the board under Section 6N of the Conservation Act

7.1 Advocacy Role [Section 6N (2) (a)]

The Board was active in its advocacy role during the report period, commenting on a number of matters (in statutory processes as well as outside these processes):

7.1.1 Regional and District Planning

(a) The Board commented on the draft Wairarapa Coastal Strategy prepared by the Wairarapa Coastal Strategy Group. The Board were supportive of this strategy

7.1.2 Management Plans - Other Authorities

(b) The Board commented on the Wellington City Councils draft Outer Green Belt Management Plan expressing that protection of valleys and open catchments should be strongly considered.

(c) Wellington Fish and Game Council Sorts Fish and Game Management Plan - conditionally supported.

(d) Ministry of Fisheries consultation to introduce North Island Shortfin and Longfin eels in to Quota Management System - conditionally supported

7.1.3 Resource Consent Applications

(e) Resource consent application by South Wairarapa District Council for the continued operation of the Moroa and Longwood water races for a 20 year term - conditionally supported

(f) Resource consent application by Masterton District Council on the continued operation of Henley Lake for a 35 year term - felt that further mitigation should be worked on

(g) Resource consent application by CentrePort Limited (disposal of material to a Wellington Harbour disposal area) -supported

The Board has a special interest in the CentrePort Limited resource consent about disposal of dredged material from the wharf and Wellington Harbour entrance dredging. Members were delighted that the applicants took on the advice presented from the Board.

(h) Resource const application by Wellington City Council to discharge partially treated wastewater to the Cook Strait via Moa Point outfall during or immediately after extreme rainfall events - conditionally supported

(i) Resource consent application by SA & SM Barton to take up to 33 litres per second from Lake Wairarapa for 20 hours per day (October to April) and to dig a channel into the bed of the Lake to maintain a link between the Lake and water abstraction pump - conditionallysupported

(j) Resource consent application from Upper Hutt Developments to complete a subdivision of 41 rural land allotments and associated earthworks for access on Paekakariki Hill Road, Pauatahanui - pre-hearing stage, opposed because of concerns with the natural character and skyline of the area (escarpment is considered to be a regionally significant landscape)

(k) Resource consent application from Lorraine Nicholls to undertake a three lot subdivision on Paekakariki Hill Road, Pauatahanui - prehearing stage, opposed because of concerns with the natural character and skyline of the area (escarpment is considered to be a regionally significant landscape)

(l) Resource consent application from Hutt City Council to discharge untreated wastewater into the Waiwhetu Stream - pre-statutory stage

7.1.4 Other Planning Matters

(m) The Board commented on Masterton District Council's draft 2003/2004 Long Term Community Plan - conditionally supported

7.1.5 Other Conservation Issues

(n) The Board commented on the Ministry of Fisheries Consultation document on introducing species into the QMS for 1 October 2004 encouraging the North Island eels to be included in this process

(o) The Board took the unusual step of making a written submission to DOC when the Hutt City Council's application to establish a garden of remembrance in the Rimutaka Forest Park was advertised. The submission covered the Board's concerns about the quality of DOC's assessment on the environmental and social effects, and the possible long term implications of the process they were using in response to the application

(p) The Board were concerned about customary rights identified in the document from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet during the consultation process on the proposals for the foreshore and seabed in New Zealand

(q) The Board commented on the Walking Access in the New Zealand Outdoors report, noting that to implement their objectives will require further analytical work, and supported the establishment of an independent public access agency provided that it is allocated significant resources to enable it to carry out its important tasks

(r) The Board commented on the Kapiti Coast District Council management of subdivision and development discussion paper identifying that walkways, tracks and access are important to consider, and expressing concern that subdivisions lead to concrete and water run off problems

(s) The Board commented on DOC's draft Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) standard operating procedure noting that the roles of conservation boards roles are not clearly defined

(t) The Board commented on DOC's concession review project expressing concern at the narrow timeframes identified for collecting advice from conservation boards

(u) The Board commented on DOC Wellington Conservancy's new plant conservation strategy, endorsing this approach and suggesting more plants that can be added to the strategy

back to top