Cycleway Ruling "A Win-Win"

Media release from Southland Fish & Game

Cycleway Ruling "A Win-Win"


Anglers are delighted that a commissioner has refused resource consent for a contentious section of the Around the Mountain Cycle Trail.

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The decision to refuse resource consent for a contentious section of the Around the Mountain Cycle Trail will be widely celebrated by anglers and those concerned about the development of the region’s finite wilderness areas, says Southland Fish & Game.

Consent for the section of the trail between the Mount Nicholas Road bridge and the proposed Oreti suspension bridge was refused by independent hearing commissioner Denis Nugent because of concerns about significant adverse environmental effects on matters of national importance.

“The trail through the Eyre Mountains section would also have threatened the amenity values of this internationally renowned fishery so we’re delighted with this common sense decision,” says Southland Fish & Game operations manager Zane Moss.

“The Commissioner recognised that the applicant produced no evidence that the success of the trail was dependent on the Oreti route, and that the Mararoa valley was a viable alternative.

“In his 120-page ruling, Mr Nugent concluded that the Mararoa alternative has the additional benefit of not risking the existing economic input of trout fishing tourism, so there seems to be a good case for a win-win.”

ENDS

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