Multiple lease applications for the Lower Selwyn Huts: Have your say

Have your say on multiple lease applications for the Lower Selwyn Huts. Submissions closed 25 October 2024.

The Minister of Conservation has received multiple applications for lease concessions of varying terms. These applications are notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987.

The Permissions team are publicly notifying these applications at the same time in order to manage the volume of applications more efficiently and reduce the cost to applicants.

Application details

Applicants: This is a bulk application process with 50 applications in total, refer to the applicant information below
Location of proposed activity: Greenpark Sands Conservation Area & Conservation Area Lower Selwyn Huts, Springston
Concession applied for: Leases
Term applied for: Varying terms, refer to the applicant information below

Summary of proposal:

These applications are for the lease of land for the purpose of existing, private huts located at the Lower Selwyn Hut settlement on the edge of Te Waihora, Lake Ellesmere. The huts were constructed to facilitate recreational activities such as fishing and game bird shooting, which are popular around the lake margins. The huts are currently in use and have previously held a concession with the Department of Conservation.

In March 2024 the Department invited the hut owners to apply for a new concession. An application form was partially pre-filled by the Department and provided to applicants to assist in providing the required information - a link to this template application form can be found below. Below is a summary of the applications made.

The total footprint (m²) of each site as well as the total footprint of structures located on each site has been included in the table below, where the information has been provided by applicants. The total footprint of structures (m²), such as the hut and associated structures (eg shed), are specified under the title ‘Hut’. The area applied for has been recorded to the nearest hundredth of a square metre, where specified by applicants.

Application documents:

Hut images:

Submissions received

Submissions closed on Friday 25 October 2024.

DOC has made no assessment of the validity of claims and views held by submitters in their current form. The opinions expressed are held by the individual submitter, and we have released these as a matter of public interest.

What happens next

After submissions close:

DOC will analyse and consider all submissions.
A hearing will be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you'll be contacted by DOC regarding this.
DOC will analyse and consider information raised at the hearing if a hearing occurred.
DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation.
The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the application.

Hearing details

If a hearing is required, the date of the hearing will be advertised on this webpage and submitters will be notified once confirmed.

Decision

No details at this point. Details, such as submissions and the decision outcome, will be added when they are available.

DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications

The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of this proposed concession on public conservation land. This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concession.

Contact

If you have a question about the application or the submission process you can contact Arzan Irani, Permissions Advisor: airani@doc.govt.nz