24 February 2013
Conservation legislation about protecting not trading away nature
The Green Party today cautiously welcomed the announcement that the Minister of Conservation, rather than a second tier
Department of Conservation official, will make the decisions on the proposed Routeburn tunnel and the Southland
monorail.
“The Green Party called for this to happen last year, and at the time the Government rejected it”, Green Party
conservation spokesperson Eugenie Sage said today.
“The Minister must ensure he applies the correct legal tests when considering the Routeburn tunnel and the Southland
monorail proposals.
“The correct decision under the Conservation and National Parks Acts would be to decline both applications because they
are contrary to the purpose of both acts and our national park management plans that have been developed with public
input.
“Conservation legislation is about protecting our national parks, not trading away their integrity for a few short-term
construction and earthmoving jobs as the Minister's comments about "balancing" economic development and conservation
suggest.
Ms Sage said that the 11.3 km Routeburn tunnel involved the equivalent of mining in two national parks because of the
large volume of waste rock it would produce. Furthermore, the Southland monorail would require extensive logging of red
beech forest and clearance in steep country in Snowdon Forest, an easy to access area near the Mavora Lakes popular for
family tramping and camping.
“There is significant public opposition to both proposals because of their impacts on Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National
Parks and the internationally important South West New Zealand Te Waipounamu World Heritage Area,” said Ms Sage.
“New Zealanders love and want to protect our national parks.”
Parliament’s Local Government and Environment select committee is considering a petition to stop the Routeburn tunnel
supported by more than 24,000 online signatures.
Reference:
Govt refuses to allow Conservation Minister to decide on the proposals: http://www.greens.org.nz/oralquestions/eugenie-sage-questions-minister-conservation-dart-tunnel