Discussions begin on Lewis Pass park

Press, 8 May 1980, Page 2

Discussions begin on Lewis Pass park

Wellington reporter Discussions ' have been begun between the Forest Service and the Department of Lands and Survey on a proposed national park in the Lewis Pass area. Both •; departments have prepared and published plans for the future of the area, which has been the su’bjecfitdf some, dispute between conservationists and other . ' It is believed that both departments are prepared, in principle, to reach a compromise about the region’s future. General agreement has been reached over a core area for a national park, but several points of disagreement arisen over some outlying'sectors and to what' uses, ,-if - any, these rnigftt be puCanart from the

limited uses they could have inside a national park. Ideas under discussion include an area set aside for hunting to the south, and different attitudes to preserving scenic corridors along the two main roads. The Forest Service’s requirements for production management of some parts of native forest are a bone of contention. Forests left outside a national park for milling will also be the main grievance of conservationists. The Lands and Survey Department wants to ensure that forests in which logging is done should not be visible from the main roads.