Park impact decisions explained

Ruapehu Bulletin, 25 August 1992, Page 15

Park impact decisions explained

Department of Conservation Regional Conservator Paul Green outlines some issues regarding decisions on developments in Tongariro National Park: During Summer and Autumn staff are often involved in approving and monitoring development projects in the park. Great care is needed to ensure that ecological and landscape values are protected and that restoration work is carried out where necessary. Parks and Reserves can be regarded by some communities as ideal locations for the installation of public utilities such as telecommunication sites, transmission lines, water supplies, rubbish dumps, sewage disposal etc. The reason may be that no alternative site

exists but can also be a result of public lands being regarded as a 'convenience'. It is important that local authorities and the public recognise the prime purpose of the land and that facilities only be sited where there is no alternative and where the environmental impact is low. Tongariro National Park is one of two national parks in New Zealand that has a railway line dissecting the land. It also has a ring of State Highways and transmission lines

along the Desert Road. These facilities have not always been sited with care but it is most pleasing to see the environmental care and restoration carried out with the recent North Island Main Trunk Railway deviation and with highway deviations carried out on the Bruce Road and the Desert Road. Railways and Transit NZ have been rcquircd to pay for park supcrvision and to carry out restoration work. The restoration at high altitudes can often cost $14 a square metre so there is a strong encouragement for a

minimum of disturbance. In the last 12 months staff have also been involved in projects laying power to the Turoa Skifield, upgrading the Ohakune Water Supply and replacing power lines with on-ground and underground cable at Whakapapa. Staff have been particularly delighted at the success with placing power cables on ground and the support of King Country Energy with these projects is much appreciated. The Ohakune Water Supply project has pro-

ceeded but the department did decline to allow the water treatment facilities to take place inside the park at Mangawhero Camp. It was considered that the environmental impact was high and that the facility could be constructed outside the park boundary. Over the last two years there has also been major work taking place on the two skifields with projects ranging from snowmaking, to slope grooming, to building construction to car-park construction.

At the peak of the season staff often question whether they are working in a national park but with high environmental standards major fears can be allayed. An often controversial aspect is the department's decision to charge a resource rent or easement fee when utilities such as water supplies or telecommunication sites are approved. It is considered that a privilege is granted. After all a recreation or tourist concession is required to

pay a fee! The Desert Road transmission lines, transmission lines to Whakapapa Village and telephone lines to Iwikau Village are three undesirable impacts re- , maining in the park. It is hoped that in the future the Whakapapa power-lines and the Iwikau telephone lines may be placed on ground and that an alternative route may be found for the North Island transmission lines. Re-printed from "Tongariro - The Jotirnal of Tongariro National Park'