Farmers’ land needs known

Press, 31 March 1980, Page 15

Farmers’ land needs known

The Lands and Survey Department was aware of the effects of recreation and conservation requirements en farming activities, said the district Commissioner of Lands (Mr E. J. Davies).

It was only by examining present recreational and farming activities that it was possible to identify the conflicts that occurred and plan to reduce or overcome them, he said. . Mr Davies said lie would like to -correct any wrong impressions from a report in “The Press” of March ’ 24, about comments made by an Akaroa . County councillor, Mr G. P. de Latour. The report concerned the

department’s Akaroa and Wairewa counties coastal reserves study, and the involvement of Federated Farmers.

’ A letter inviting submissions was sent to the Banks Peninsula Branch of Federated Farmers as one of the 46 interested groups approached, but because “various factors beyond the department's control,” the letter failed to .reach the branch secretary, he said. : ‘‘However, 'as a result of public notices calling for submissions. ’Federated

Farmers’ executive got in touch . with : the : department and .an open -meeting was arranged,”: said Mr Davies. ? ' The meeting .at ■ Duvatichelle was attended by the department’s: . . planning

officer, the survey co-ordina-tor, and, more than 50 farmers. The. 'coastal reserves survey was explained and discussed at length in .an amicable and informative manner, he said. After the . meeting, in a combined ' effprt. by the department and Federated Farmers’ executive, copies of ; the relevant sections of the Ministry of Works and Developments coastal recreation planning survey were distributed to coastal farmers for comment as part of I their submissions to the survey. Some submissions had already been sent to the department as a result of this combined action, Mr Davies said.