High Country Clearance policy continues

13 October 2006

High Country Clearance policy continues

Pastoral lessees will welcome the release of the Armstrong Report which totally vindicates their long-held belief that they are already paying market rentals, says High Country Trustee chair Gerry Eckhoff.

“High country families however will be bewildered by the Crown’s response to now try and include ‘amenity values’ in the valuation process. Such aesthetic values were effectively privatised under the 1948 Land Act which gave farmers exclusive rights of use and quiet enjoyment of their properties.

“It is obvious that the government is continuing with its High Country Clearance policy in spite of the Armstrong report’s clear opinion that pastoral lessees are justified in their stance. The government is clearly seeking to price lessees off their land,” he says.

ENDS

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