Little sympathy from board for reserve idea

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 339, 12 June 1990, Page 4

Little sympathy from board for reserve idea

Six of the seven Waimarino Community Board members met (Ellen Gould being at a meeting in Raetihi) to declare Winston Oliver the eighth member, appointed to replace Leigh Ryland who resigned earlier.

Oliver's presence enlivened the discussion led by Department of Conservation speaker, John Heaphy, about the need to change the status of the riverside land around the middle section of the Manganuioteao River from unformed legal "road", to that of "scenic reserve." The Department of Conservation is particularly concerned that the present status does not protect the vegetation and therefore wildlife in this area,

including the nationally important colony of blue duck. The board heard that as it stands at present, there is nothing to prevent land owners from cutting out all existing vegetation, thus threatening the blue duck, already an endangered species, as well as silting up the crystal clear river water - the outstanding quality of which Mr Heaphy maintains is the result of the Manganuioteao being the only river in

the area to be unmodified by humans, having no power scheme on it nor discharge into it. As one of the land owners at the Ruatiti Domain end of this strip of river, Winston Oliver wasn't at all convinced that he would not be adversely affected by this proposed change in status. "As a land owner I've got extreme reservations... under a scenic reserve status a land owner normally has to meet half the cost of fencing... cutting off the stock from water..." Bill Peach agreed that the affected farmers are the ones the Board represents. Doug Bennett was concerned that

some farmers would have their access cut off and become landlocked. He was worried that "the Board and the Council will give their agreement in principle and then they (DoC) will go to the farmers and use that as a lever to get the farmers to agree with it." Mr Heaphy assured the Board that it was not being used as a "middle man", but that because the riparian strips of the mid section of the river are vested in the Ruapehu District Council, DoC felt the Board should be approached first and their feelings gauged. After some discussion, it was agreed to give John the go-ahead to consult with the affected land owners, on the understanding that he doesn't have the authority to say the Board necessarily agrees the status is to be changed. Mr Heaphy and the planning assistant, Belinda Petersen, stayed Turnpage 5

Duck reserve From page 4 for the next item on the agenda, the appointment of a committee to administer the Ruatiti Domain under the new management plan for rural reserves. Mr Heaphy and Mr Oliver accepted membership on the new committee, following which some confusion ensued as to how many further members would be required and to how they should be elected. It was finally decided that a public meeting be held on Thursday 28 June at 7.30pm in the Council Chambers, to discover how many representatives of user groups would be interested in becoming committee members.