Future of South Westland's forests decided

On February 27 the Deputy Prime Mini- existing tracks including Lake Mary - giving urgency to the sealing of the ster, Geoffrey Palmer, announced that and Lake Ellery Walks, Roaring Billy Haast highway, east of Haast Pass in all 311,000 hectares of former State Walk, ParingaIHaast Cattle Track and view of the potential benefits of a fully forest in South Westland, south of the Jamie Creek Walk; sealed road access to the region from Cook River, would be protected. - production of a South Westland the east; This decision, allocating the area to tourist handbook and a highway map - inviting the Minister of Transport to the Department of Conservation, means guide incorporating the new features. consider options for retaining the air that Government will now submit a "The Government will also allocate a strip facility at Haast. nomination to UNESCO for a South total of $150,000 over the next three An issue which concerned the Secre- West World Heritage years to the West Coast Tourism Council tary for the Environment was the future area. for tourism promotion," said Mr employment opportunities in "If the nomination is accepted, this Palmer. "It will also allocate a total of and Harihari, once the existing produc- will put the region on the international $150,000 over the same period for tion forest allocation in South Westland, tourist map along with other World approved grants to assist local entrepre- north of the Cook River, was exhausted. Heritage sites such as Yellowstone neurs to investigate and establish recre- Strong submissions were made to National Park, the Grand Canyon, the ation and tourism based commercial revoke the existing sustained yield Taj Mahal and the Pyramids," said Mr operations." gazettal on the Saltwater and North Palmer. Mr Palmer also stated that the alloca- Okarito forests, Mr Palmer stated. The Government has also decided to allo- tion of land to the Department of Con- proposal was to clearfell up to 7500 hec- cate a total of $1.5 million, over the next servation would be made on the basis tares of indigenous forest and replanting three years, for recreational and tourist that it does not prejudice future deter- with Tasmanian Blackwood or other facilities in the area including: minations of applications for mining pri- special-purpose species. Government - the development of the concept of the vileges for minerals, limestone or quar- did not agree to this proposal. West Coast main highway as a scenic, rying, or an assessment of the relevant natural, historic and cultural heritage weight of conservation values and com- parkway; mercial mining opportunity. Employment Benefits - the development and upgrading of The Government has also approved a "The tourism and recreation package roadside facilities for safe viewing, number of the recommendations from for South Westland will have significant interpretation and picnicking at the Secretary for the Environment's employment benefits for Whataroa and Knight's Point, , Jackson report on South Westland's forests. Harihari," said Mr Palmer. He added Bay, Pleasant Point, , Lake These recommendations, aimed at ensu- that previous Government commit- Moeraki and Ship Creek; ring the continuation of the local com- ments to planting up to 10,000 hectares - the building of avisitor centre at Haast munity, include: of Tasmanian Blackwood, or other spe- near the Haast HighwayIJackson Bay cies, would be incorporated as part of Road junction; - encouragement of harvesting of spha- the tendering process for cutting rights - the mounting of new displays at the gnum moss on a sustained yield basis for existing allocated production forests and Makarora visitor on existing and new licence areas, and north of the Cook River. centres to provide information for provision for increasing the term of "Two conditions will be applied to the visitors entering South Westland from licences to encourage security and tenders to assist community viability. both the northern and southern en- sustainability of management; They are: trances to the region; - a review of all grazing and industrial - that local labour be used for planting - the construction of a swamp board- leases and licences within former State and tending wherever practicable; walk in the Haast area through kahi- forests, with a view to providing - that planting be no less than 3000 hec- katea forest and wetland; greater security of tenure; tares over the first ten years, with a - the establishment of high-standard - a review with the Westland County minimum of 200 hectares in any one wetland and forest walks beside the Council of the adequacy of land adja- year during that period. main highway and Jackson Bay road cent to existing communities to pro- "As well, Government has agreed that to provide easy access for family vide for settlement and facilities for in considering tenders for cutting rights groups and tourists to a cross-section fishing, whitebaiting, tourism, indus- for former State forests north of the of the natural and historic features of trial and horticultural uses; Cook River, already allocated for pro- the area, including through the Kini - a review of the management practices duction, thorough consideration will be wetland, from to the for whitebait fishing; given to the need to maintain a viable sea, to Cole Creek beach, to Matake- - implementation of agreements with timber industry on the West Coast," take lagoon and through Moccasin local Maori people (and others who concluded Mr Palmer. gap to the beach; fish) on kaimoana areas as soon as - upgrading and interpretation of practicable; J.C.H.

10 N.Z. FORESTRY MAY 1989