15 November 2007

Forest & Bird media release for immediate use

New high country lakeside protection measures welcomed

Forest & Bird today welcomed the Government's comprehensive list of high country lakeside properties to be protected from inappropriate subdivision and development.

"Today's announcement is welcome because it means we won't see a repeat of the Richmond controversy where a significant portion of the eastern sore of Lake Tekepo was privatised and then threatened with development," Forest & Bird Advocacy Manager, Kevin Hackwell said.

"Forest & Bird is disappointed that there is no equivalent list for properties which have important biodiversity, landscape and public access values. However, we are pleased with the clear signal it sends, that unless these values can be adequately protected through tenure review the properties will remain as pastoral leases."

There will also be staffing issues for LINZ (Land Information New Zealand) which will now have to move some of its resources to better monitoring the management of pastoral leases and any rent reduction agreements, he said.

Many pastoral leases retain significant areas of some of our most threatened and vulnerable ecosystems, which need better protection. The proposal to allow rent reduction to leaseholders who protect these values offers new opportunities for the Crown, lessees and communities to work together to look after them.

ENDS

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