Forestry controls petition fails

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 643, 2 July 1996, Page 1

Forestry controls petition fails

Rules to control the planting of exotic forests along main access roads and adjacent to rural schools, halls and public domains should be included in the Ruapehu District Councii district plan, says a petition presented to full councii last week. Councillors have only recently ended a lengthy process of hearing and considering submissions to the plan and chose to receive the petition with no action taken. The petitioners said they believed a balance of uses within a community would encourage the population to remain and would benefit the greater community. The petition consists of 103 signatures from around the whole district. The councii heard that to introduce such rules would require the councii to vary its proposed Ruapehu District Plan. In accordance with the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991, prior to its public notification, a Turn to Page 2

Forestry petition

FROM PAGE 1 variation of this nature would need consultation with the Ministry for the Environment; other Ministers of the Crown; and Tangata Whenua. District planner Jeff Page said in his view it would also be good practice to consult with the wider community, affected landowners, and representatives of the forestry Industry. He said the council has already considered the issue of exotic afforestation at least twice during the preparation of the District Plan, when it proposed rules relating to site boundaries only. "This proposal drew one submission seeking more stringent controls, which only related to housing. There were a number of submissions opposing the proposed controls seeking a more flexible approach for forestry," Mr Page told the council. He reminded the council that in December 1995 they resolved to "pro-actively" enter into strategic alliances with representatives of the exotic forestry industry, as opposed to considering the introduction of additional regulation in the proposed Ruapehu District Plan.