15 November 2016

Immediate release

Environment Court Oreti Valley decision ‘saves iconic backcountry’

Southland Fish & Game has hailed as a “great outcome” for all of Southland an Environment Court ruling in its favour over the Oreti River valley.

Fish and Game had opposed the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail’s planned route through the valley, a world renowned trout fishing location.

Fish & Game appealed to the Environment Court against an independent commissioner's decision to grant consents to the Southland District Council (SDC) for stage two of the trail.

The Court decision has now allowed the appeal, effectively halting the consents that had been granted.

Chairman of the Southland Fish and Game Council Graeme Watson says it’s an excellent outcome for not only anglers, but all of Southland “because it saves one of the most iconic backcountry areas.”

The judgement upholds our case, stating that unmodified rivers are “limited, finite and highly valuable recreational assets,” he says.

Mr Watson says Fish & Game always supported the alternative route proposed and attempted to work constructively with the District Council, but to no avail.

“We even offered to contribute funding towards the alternative Mararoa option, rather than go to court, but unfortunately this was not accepted.”

“The Environment Court ruling in no way prevents the SDC completing the trail as there may be more than one viable route down the Mararoa Valley, the Environment Court judgement says”.

This had been Fish & Game’s suggestion right from the start with evidence gathered indicating that that it would be as scenic, as well as cheaper to build and maintain.

“Not only that, it would be safer and provide better links to Te Anau while at the same time not compromising the overall appeal of the trail.”

Mr Watson says that Fish & Game had never been anti the trail, and promoted the alternative in the full belief that its adoption would be in the best interests of the SDC and Southland’s ratepayers.

The Council-commissioned Deloittes review identified what was described as a “lack of expertise in the actual scoping, design and construction of a cycle trail.” (p. 34 - 9.2 (d))

It was extremely unfortunate the District Council did not follow the advice it was given, Mr Watson says.

“Had they received competent advice I believe the Council was unlikely to have dogmatically pursued the Oreti option, which has now been found to be entirely inappropriate.

“The Council now has an opportunity to assess how to pursue the Mararoa options in light of the judgement, which concluded that “little weight can be given to the predictions of economic benefits.”

Mr Watson says that Fish & Game welcomes “any opportunity” to work with the District Council on further assessment of a Mararoa Valley route.

Deloitte report:
http://southlanddc.govt.nz/my-southland/around-the-mountains-cycle-trail/around-the-mountains-cycle-trail-review-report/

ends

© Scoop Media