Feds Want DoC’s Advocacy Role Curtailed
February 23rd, 2009
The controversy over Meridian paying DoC $175,000 in exchange for it withdrawing its opposition to Project Hayes wind farm highlights the urgent need to reform DoC’s statutory advocacy role it enjoys under the Conservation Act. FedFarmers’ Don Nicolson says, “The number one priority is to end DoC’s statutory advocacy role under the Conservation Act and the lawyers this keeps in business.” He notes doing this doesn’t stop DoC from objecting in the future but places DoC on the same footing as other departments, companies, organisations like FedFarmers and private individuals.
Compensation provisions unfair. He also believes such a change means DoC will be more judicious in what it objects to rather than the shotgun approach farmers see being employed. “FedFarmers supports most of what DoC does and wishes to see the money it spends on lawyers and non-core activities poured into NZ’s fantastic biodiversity.” Nicolson says it is palpably unfair private land owners can’t demand compensation if their land is “protected” for conservation values. The controversy over Project Hayes shows there is no reason why the compensation provisions stripped out from the original RMA should not be reintroduced with the RMA reforms underway.
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